[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 139 (Wednesday, July 20, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 47156]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-17077]



[[Page 47156]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Annual Capital 
Expenditures Survey

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, 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 take this opportunity 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: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on 
or before September 19, 2016.

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 the Internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Valerie Mastalski, U.S. Census Bureau, Room HQ-
8K041, Washington, DC 20233; (301) 763-3317 (or via the Internet at 
[email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The U.S. Census Bureau plans to conduct the 2016 through 2018 
Annual Capital Expenditures Survey (ACES). The annual survey collects 
data on fixed assets and depreciation, sales and receipts, capitalized 
computer software, and capital expenditures for new and used structures 
and equipment. The ACES is the sole source of detailed comprehensive 
statistics on actual business spending for non-farm companies, non-
governmental companies, organizations, and associations operating in 
the United States. Both employer and nonemployer companies are included 
in the survey.
    The Bureau of Economic Analysis, the primary Federal user of the 
ACES data, uses these data in refining and evaluating annual estimates 
of investment in structures and equipment in the national income and 
product accounts, compiling annual input-output tables, and computing 
gross domestic product by industry. The Federal Reserve Board uses 
these data to improve estimates of investment indicators for monetary 
policy. The Bureau of Labor Statistics uses these data to improve 
estimates of capital stocks for productivity analysis.
    Industry analysts use these data for market analysis, economic 
forecasting, identifying business opportunities, product development, 
and business planning.
    Planned changes from the previous ACES are the collection of 
capital expenditures data solely by electronic reporting, and the 
collection of capital expenditures by type of structure and type of 
equipment in the 2017 ACES only. Every five years, for years ending in 
``3'' and ``8'', detailed data by types of structures and types of 
equipment have been collected from companies with employees. In 2010, 
it was decided that this detailed data should be collected for years 
ending in ``2'' and ``7'' beginning in 2013, to align with the years in 
which the Economic Census is conducted.

II. Method of Collection

    For the 2012 and prior ACES data collection; the Census Bureau used 
mail out/mail back survey forms to collect data. For the 2013 ACES, the 
Census Bureau collected data from employer companies primarily through 
electronic reporting and continued to use mail out/mail back survey 
forms to collect data from nonemployer companies. Beginning with the 
2014 ACES, the Census Bureau collected data from both employer and 
nonemployer companies primarily through electronic reporting. Companies 
were asked to respond to the survey within 30 days of the initial 
mailing. Letters and/or telephone calls encouraging participation were 
directed to companies that had not responded by the designated time.
    The Census Bureau will continue collecting the ACES data from 
employer and nonemployer companies solely through electronic reporting. 
Employer companies will complete the ACE-1 electronic reporting 
instrument. Nonemployers will complete the ACE-2 electronic reporting 
instrument. All companies will receive a notification letter containing 
their User ID and password, and will be directed to report online 
through the Census Bureau's Business Help Site. The online reporting 
instruments are an electronic version of the paper data collection 
instruments, which will no longer be used and are tailored to the 
company's diversity of operations and number of industries with 
payroll.
    The Census Bureau will continue to ask both companies with 
employees and nonemployer companies to respond to the survey within 30 
days. Reminder letters and/or telephone calls encouraging participation 
will continue to be directed to all companies that have not responded 
by the designated time.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0782.
    Form Number: ACE-1 and ACE-2.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit organizations, non-
profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: Approximately 75,000 (45,000 
employer companies, and 30,000 nonemployer businesses).
    Estimated Time Per Response: The average for all respondents is 
1.96 hours. For employer companies completing form ACE-1, the range is 
2 to 16 hours, averaging 2.59 hours. For companies completing form ACE-
2, the range is less than 1 hour to 2 hours, averaging 1 hour.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 146,570 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $0.
    Respondents' Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 United States Code, Sections 131 and 182.

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 shall 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: July 14, 2016.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-17077 Filed 7-19-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-07-P