[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 5 (Monday, January 9, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2325-2326]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-00154]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Telecommunications and Information Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Computer and 
Internet Use Supplement to the Census Bureau's Current Population 
Survey

AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration 
(NTIA).

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.

DATES: Submit comments on or before March 10, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental

[[Page 2326]]

Paperwork Clearance Officer, (202) 482-0336, Department of Commerce, 
Room 6612, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via 
email at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: NTIA has made a copy of the proposed 
information collection instrument available at https://ntia.doc.gov/files/ntia/publications/november_2017_cps_supplement_draft_for_public_comment.pdf. 
Additionally, requests for further information or copies of the 
proposed information collection instrument and instructions should be 
directed to Rafi Goldberg, Telecommunications Policy Analyst, Office of 
Policy Analysis and Development, NTIA, at (202) 482-4375 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    NTIA proposes to add 58 questions to the U.S. Census Bureau's 
November 2017 Current Population Survey (CPS) to gather reliable data 
on broadband (also known as high-speed Internet) use by U.S. households 
through the Computer and Internet Use Supplement (``the Supplement''). 
The planned Supplement will be the fourteenth since NTIA began 
sponsoring such surveys in November 1994. Since that time, NTIA has 
continually revised the Supplement to reflect developments in Internet 
technology, applications, and connected devices.
    As the digital economy's accelerating growth reinforces the 
Internet's importance to the nation's economic prosperity, 
policymakers, businesses, non-profits, communities, and other 
stakeholders increasingly rely on data about whether and how Americans 
use broadband in their routine activities. Recognizing that digitally-
connected Americans provide the modern workforce, creative innovation, 
and growing customer base to help sustain our nation's global 
competitiveness, the Supplement will yield data that can inform 
investment decisions and resource allocations to advance full 
participation in the digital economy.
    NTIA is working with Congress, the Federal Communications 
Commission (FCC), other federal agencies, state and local governments, 
as well as with industry and non-profits to develop and promote 
policies that foster broadband deployment and adoption. These policies 
help to ensure that the nation's businesses and consumers can obtain 
competitively priced high-speed Internet access and that everyone is 
able to gain the skills necessary to use the technology. Collecting 
current, systematic, and comprehensive information on broadband use and 
non-use by U.S. households is critical to enabling policymakers to 
gauge progress made to date, and also to identify specific areas and 
demographic groups in which broadband adoption is a concern with a 
specificity that permits carefully targeted and cost-effective 
responses.
    The U.S. Census Bureau is widely regarded as a premier data 
collector based on centuries of experience and rigorous scientific 
methods. Collection of NTIA's requested broadband usage data will occur 
in conjunction with the U.S. Census Bureau's scheduled November 2017 
CPS, thereby significantly reducing the potential burdens on the U.S. 
Census Bureau and on surveyed households.
    The U.S. government has an increasingly pressing need for 
comprehensive broadband data. The U.S. Government Accountability Office 
(GAO), NTIA, and the FCC have issued reports noting the importance of 
useful broadband adoption data for policymakers. Moreover, Congress 
passed legislation--the Broadband Data Improvement Act in 2008 and the 
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in 2009--wholly or in part to 
address this deficiency. Modifying the November 2017 CPS to include 
NTIA's requested broadband questions will enable the Commerce 
Department and NTIA to respond to congressional concerns and 
directives.

II. Method of Collection

    The Supplement will be administered through personal visits and 
live telephone interviews using computer-assisted telephone 
interviewing and computer-assisted personal interviewing.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0660-0021.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (Revision of a currently 
approved collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals and households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 54,000 households.
    Estimated Time per Response: 10 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 9,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

IV. Requests 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 on 
respondents of providing the requested information, 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 be a matter of public record.

Sheleen Dumas,
PRA Departmental Lead, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-00154 Filed 1-6-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-60-P