[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 225 (Friday, November 21, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 69423]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-27613]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Economic Analysis


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Services--
Surveys: BE-150, Quarterly Survey of Payment Card and Bank Card 
Transactions Related to International Travel

AGENCY: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before January 20, 
2015.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230, or via email at 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Request for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Christopher Stein, Chief, Services Surveys Branch BE-50 
(SSB), Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce, 
Washington, DC 20230; phone: (202) 606-9850; fax: (202) 606-5318; or 
via email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Quarterly Survey of Payment Card and Bank Card Transactions 
Related to International Travel (BE-150) is a survey that collects data 
on the credit, debit, charge, automated teller machine (ATM), and point 
of sale transactions of U.S. persons traveling abroad and foreign 
persons traveling in the United States. The information collected on 
this survey will be used to formulate U.S. international economic 
policy and analyze the impact of that policy, and the policies of 
foreign countries, on international trade in services. The data are 
also used in estimating the travel component of the U.S. international 
transactions accounts (ITAs) and national income and product accounts 
(NIPAs).
    The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) is proposing no additions, 
modifications, or deletions to the current BE-150 survey. The effort to 
keep current reporting requirements unchanged is intended to minimize 
respondent burden while considering the needs of data users. Existing 
language in the instructions and definitions will be reviewed and 
adjusted as necessary to clarify survey requirements.

II. Method of Collection

    Form BE-150 is a quarterly report that must be filed within 45 days 
after the end of each quarter and is mandatory for each U.S. company 
that operates networks for clearing and settling credit card 
transactions made by U.S. cardholders in foreign countries and by 
foreign cardholders in the United States and from PIN-based debit 
network companies.
    BEA offers its electronic filing option, the eFile system, for use 
in reporting on Form BE-150. For more information about eFile, go to 
www.bea.gov/efile.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0608-0072.
    Form Number: BE-150.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 24 annually (6 filed each quarter).
    Estimated Time per Response: 16 hours is the average, but may vary 
considerably among respondents because of differences in company size 
and complexity.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 384.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: International Investment and Trade in Services 
Survey Act (Pub. L. 94-472, 22 U.S.C. 3101-3108, as amended).

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the Agency, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: November 18, 2014.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-27613 Filed 11-20-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-06-P