[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 184 (Monday, September 25, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44585-44586]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-20369]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Patent and Trademark Resource Centers Metrics
ACTION: Proposed information collection; comment request.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), as
required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1996, invites comments on a
proposed extension of an existing information collection: 0651-0068
(Patent and Trademark Resource Center Metrics).
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before November 24,
2017.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
Email: [email protected]. Include ``0651-
0068 comment'' in the subject line of the message.
Federal Register Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
Mail: Marcie Lovett, Records and Information Governance
Division Director, Office of the Chief Technology Officer, United
States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA
22313-1450.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information
should be directed to Robert Berry, Manager, Patent and Trademark
Resource Center Program, Office of the Chief Information Officer,
United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria,
VA 22313-1450; by telephone at (571) 272-7152; or by email at
[email protected] with ``0651-0068 comment'' in the subject line.
Additional information about this collection is also available at
http://www.reginfo.gov under ``Information Collection Review.''
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The USPTO seeks to collect from Patent Trademark Resource Centers
(PTRC) information about the public's use of and training on the tools
provided through the centers. Specifically, the USTPO seeks metrics
concerning the public's use of patent and trademark services and the
public outreach efforts provided by the PTRCs.
The PTRC Program is authorized under the provision of 35 U.S.C.
2(a)(2), which provides that the USPTO shall be responsible for
disseminating information with respect to patents and trademarks to the
public. The PTRC Program is made up public, state, and academic
libraries. Once a library has been designated as a PTRC, each
participating library must fulfill the following requirements: assist
the public in the efficient use of patent and trademark information
resources; provide free access to patent and trademark resources
provided by the USPTO; and send representatives to attend the USPTO-
hosted PTRC training seminars. At present, there are 86 libraries that
are a part of the growing PTRC Program.
The PTRC Program requirements stipulate that all participating
libraries must submit periodic metrics on the public's use of the
patent and trademark services through the PTRCs and the public outreach
efforts provided by the PTRCs. To facilitate this requirement, the
USPTO has developed a worksheet to collect the metrics. A third-party
vendor will collect the metrics on a quarterly basis. The information
will only be collected electronically. The PTRCs will be given a
password to input their information.
This information collection will enable the USPTO to ascertain what
types of services the PTRCs should offer and to train PTRC staff more
effectively, as the PTRCs continue to move away from the physical
distribution of hard copy information. Collection of this information
will enable the USPTO to service its current customers while more
effectively planning for the future.
II. Method of Collection
The metrics will be submitted electronically to the USPTO.
III. Data
OMB Number: 0651-0068.
IC Instruments and Forms: No forms are associated with this
collection of information.
Type of Review: Revision of an existing information collection.
Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profits; not-for-profit
institutions.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 344 responses per year. The USPTO
estimates that there will be up to 88 libraries reporting their metrics
once per quarter, resulting in a total of 352 responses per year. This
estimate includes possible growth in the PTRC program above the 86
libraries that are currently reporting.
Estimated Time per Response: The USPTO estimates that it will take
the public approximately 30 minutes (0.50 hours) to gather the
necessary information, prepare the worksheet, and submit it to the
USPTO.
Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 176 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Respondent Cost Burden: $5,536.96 The USPTO
expects that the information in this collection will be prepared by
library staff, at an estimated hourly rate of $31.46. This is the mean
hourly wage for college librarians according to the Bureau of Labor
Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics (OES 25-4021). Using this
hourly rate, the USPTO estimates that the respondent cost burden for
this collection will be approximately $5,536.96 per year.
[[Page 44586]]
Table 1--Hourly Burden
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated time Estimated annual
IC No. Item for response Estimated annual Estimated annual Rate ($/hr) respondent cost
(hour) responses burden burden
..................... (a) (b) (c) = (a) x (b) (d) (e) = (c) x (d)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1................................. PTRC Metric Worksheet 0.50 (30 minutes) 352 176 $31.46 $5,53611.96
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... ..................... ................. 352 176 ................. 5,536.96
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated Total Annual Non-Hour Respondent Cost Burden: $0. There
are no filing fees, capital start-up, maintenance, operation, or
postage costs associated with this collection.
IV. Request for Comments
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized or
included in the request for OMB approval of this information
collection. They also will become a matter of public record.
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, e.g., the use of automated collection techniques or other
forms of information technology.
Marcie Lovett,
Records and Information Governance Division Director, OCTO, United
States Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2017-20369 Filed 9-22-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-16-P