[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 107 (Wednesday, June 3, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34178-34179]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-11966]



[[Page 34178]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Household Pulse Survey

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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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 the 
potential for extending data collection for the Household Pulse Survey 
During COVID-19 Epidemic. The Household Pulse Survey was launched on 
April 23, 2020 with approval from the Office of Management and Budget 
to continue data collection through July 31, 2020 (OMB No. 0607-1013). 
The Department of Commerce may determine it prudent to continue the 
Household Pulse Survey after July 31, 2020. This notice serves to 
inform the public about this possible continuance.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding the continued 
Household Pulse Survey information collection must be received on or 
before August 3, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Cassandra Logan, Survey Director, U.S. Census Bureau, by email to 
[email protected] or [email protected]. Please reference OMB 
Control Number 0607-1013 in the subject line of your comments. Do not 
submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or 
protected information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed 
to Cassandra Logan, Survey Director, U.S. Census Bureau, 4600 Silver 
Hill Road, HQ-7H157, Washington, DC 20233, (301) 763-1087, and 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau has developed the Household Pulse Survey as an 
experimental endeavor in cooperation with five other federal agencies. 
The survey is designed to produce near real-time data in a time of 
urgent and acute need. Changes in the measures over time will provide 
insight into individuals' experiences on social and economic dimensions 
during the period of the Covid-19 pandemic. This survey, conducted 
under the auspices of the Census Bureau's Experimental Data Series 
(https://www.census.gov/data/experimental-data-products.html), is 
designed to supplement the federal statistical system's traditional 
benchmark data products with a new data source that provides relevant 
and timely information based on a high quality sample frame, data 
integration, and cooperative expertise.
    Question domains contributed by the Census Bureau (Census), 
Economic Research Service (ERS), Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 
National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), National Center for 
Education Statistics (NCES), and the Department of Housing (HUD) seek 
to measure employment status, spending, food security, housing, health, 
and education disruptions. Many of the questions that will be asked on 
this survey have been fielded on other surveys in the past. However, 
some of the questions are new, designed to explore potential impacts 
associated with the COVID-19 pandemic response.

II. Method of Collection

    The Census Bureau will conduct this information collection online 
using Qualtrics as the data collection platform. Qualtrics currently is 
used at the Census Bureau for research and development surveys and 
provides the necessary agility to deploy the Household Pulse Survey 
quickly and securely. It operates in the Gov Cloud, is FedRAMP 
authorized at the moderate level, and has an Authority to Operate from 
the Census Bureau to collect personally identifiable and Title-
protected data.
    The Census Bureau will sample approximately 2,159,000 housing 
units, with an additional approximately 1,100,000 housing units each 
subsequent week of data collection. The survey will be administered 
over the course of 24 weeks starting April 23, 2020. Households will be 
contacted via email and asked to complete approximately 50 questions 
focused on employment, spending, food security, housing, health and 
educational disruption. Prior to production the survey was estimated to 
take 20 minutes; the actual time for survey participants to complete 
the survey now that it is in production is approximately 11 minutes.
    Weekly survey estimates will be produced by weighting the results 
to various demographic controls from auxiliary sources like the Census 
Bureau official population estimates and the American Community Survey. 
Weekly source and accuracy documentation will provide details about the 
methods and quality of the survey estimates.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-1013.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Individuals and households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: The total number of respondents is 
estimated at 93,400 per week (a reduction in the initial estimate of 
108,000) for 24 weeks (an extension from the 12 weeks initially 
planned) for a total estimate of 2,241,600 respondents.
    Estimated Time per Response: 11 minutes (actual time in production; 
initial estimate was 20 minutes).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 410,960.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, Sections 8(b), 182 
and 196.

IV. Request for Comments

    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau 
to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether 
the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy 
of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed 
collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden 
on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone 
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in 
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including 
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available 
at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we

[[Page 34179]]

cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2020-11966 Filed 6-2-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-07-P