[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 183 (Monday, September 21, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59285-59287]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-20794]


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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; Service Annual Survey (SAS)

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, invites the general public and other 
Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information 
collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information 
collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The 
purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment on the 
proposed revision of the Service Annual Survey, prior to the submission 
of the information collection request (ICR) to OMB for approval.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before November 20, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments by 
email to [email protected]. Please reference Service Annual 
Survey in the subject line of your comments. You may also submit 
comments, identified by Docket Number USBC-2020-0026, to the Federal e-
Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. All comments received 
are part of the public record. No comments will be posted to http://www.regulations.gov for public viewing until after the comment period 
has closed. Comments will generally be posted without change. All 
Personally Identifiable Information (for example, name and address) 
voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do 
not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or 
protected information. You may submit attachments to electronic 
comments in Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed 
to Edward Watkins, Assistant Division Chief for Service Sectors, 
Economy-Wide Statistics Division, U.S. Census Bureau, (301) 763-4750, 
or email [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Service Annual Survey (SAS) produces annual nationwide 
estimates of revenue and expenses for service industries. These service 
industries include all or portions of the following North American 
Industry Classification System (NAICS) sectors: Utilities (NAICS 22); 
Transportation and Warehousing (NAICS 48 AND 49); Information (NAICS 
51); Finance and Insurance (NAICS 52); Real Estate and Rental and 
Leasing (NAICS 53); Professional, Scientific and Technical Services 
(NAICS 54); Administrative and Support and Waste Management and 
Remediation Services (NAICS 56); Educational Services (NAICS 61); 
Health Care and Social Assistance (NAICS 62); Arts, Entertainment, and 
Recreation (NAICS 71); Accommodation and Food Services (NAICS 72); and 
Other Services (NAICS 81).
    For most industries, SAS produces estimates of revenue for selected

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detailed products. The program also collects and publishes information 
about sales generated from electronic sources (e-commerce). Inventory 
estimates are produced for selected industries in the Transportation 
and Information sectors. For industries with a significant non-profit 
component, separate estimates are developed for taxable firms and 
organizations exempt from federal income tax.
    Data from the SAS are needed to provide a sound statistical basis 
for the formation of policy by various governmental agencies, private 
businesses, and trade associations, among other users. The media and 
the public also rely on these data to understand the health of the U.S. 
service sector. The Bureau of Economic Analysis, the primary Federal 
user of these annual program statistics, uses the information in 
developing the national income and product accounts, compiling 
benchmark and annual input-output tables, and computing Gross Domestic 
Product by industry. The Bureau of Labor Statistics uses the data as 
inputs to its Producer Price Index and in developing productivity 
measurements. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services uses the 
data in the development of the National Health Expenditure Accounts. 
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) uses the data as a means 
for assessing FCC policy. The Census Bureau uses the data to provide 
new insight into changing structural and cost conditions that will 
impact the planning and design of future Economic Census 
questionnaires.
    Among the many private sector entities that rely on SAS data, trade 
and professional organizations, like the Coalition of Service 
Industries, use the data to analyze industry trends and benchmark their 
own statistical programs, develop forecasts, and evaluate regulatory 
requirements. Private businesses use the data to measure market share, 
analyze business potential, and plan investment decisions. Private 
industry also uses the data as a tool for marketing analysis. The media 
uses the data for news reports and background information.
    Through the SAS, the Census Bureau collects data from the largest 
firms in the service sectors and from a sample of small- and medium-
sized businesses selected using a stratified sampling procedure. The 
Census Bureau reselects the samples periodically, generally at 5-year 
intervals. The Census Bureau uses a secure online reporting instrument 
(Centurion) for all SAS data collection. This electronic system of 
reporting allows respondents easier access, and more convenience and 
flexibility than paper survey forms. In rare cases where the company 
has no access to the internet, the Census Bureau can arrange for the 
company to provide data to an analyst via telephone.
    The Census Bureau plans to make the following changes:

    A. Content added related to the COVID-19 pandemic, revenues from 
telemedicine services: Expand industries provided by the 
telemedicine question to include hospitals (NAICS 622) and nursing 
and residential care facilities (NAICS 623) in addition to 
ambulatory health care providers (NAICS 621) and revise the current 
telemedicine question for ambulatory health care providers to match 
the new content added for hospitals and nursing and residential care 
facilities.
    The primary objective of expanding the scope of industries 
receiving the telemedicine services question is to measure the 
impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the healthcare sector, and meet 
the needs of the data user community. As economic conditions and the 
pandemic evolve, the Census Bureau may make further modifications to 
the SAS.
    B. Revisions related to integrating annual surveys: The Census 
Bureau is undertaking an initiative to integrate and re-engineer 
select annual programs. Programs include the Annual Survey of 
Manufactures (ASM), Annual Retail Trade Survey (ARTS), Annual 
Wholesale Trade Survey (AWTS), Services Annual Survey (SAS), Annual 
Capital Expenditures Survey (ACES), Manufacturing Shipments 
Inventories and Unfilled Orders (M3UFO), and Company Organizational 
Survey (COS). Efforts include coordinating collection strategies/
instruments/communication; integrating, changing or revising 
content; ensuring content is relevant; coordinating samples; and 
improving frame and coordinating status updates across annual 
surveys. The initiative to integrate and re-engineer select annual 
programs is scheduled to begin implementation in survey year 2023. 
The goal is to shift select annual programs from individual 
independent surveys to a streamlined integrated annual program. The 
new annual program will move from industry focused, individual 
surveys to requesting a more holistic view of the companies. Prior 
to survey year 2023, the Census Bureau plans to begin to align our 
annual programs and improve efficiencies across programs in targeted 
areas related to consistent content, processes, and systems. The 
initiative is in response to data user needs (timely, granular, 
harmonized data), and declining response rates.
    C. Beginning in survey year 2020, the operating expenses content 
on all SAS questionnaires will be slightly expanded from what has 
been collected over the past two reference periods to a version that 
will be used in both Economic Census years and non-Economic Census 
years. This change will aid in creating a consistent survey 
experience for respondents from year to year and better meet the 
needs of our data users.

II. Method of Collection

    The Census Bureau collects this information via the internet, but 
in rare cases when respondents have no access to the internet, the 
Census Bureau will collect the information by telephone.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0422.
    Form Number(s): The Service Annual Survey program consists of 91 
unique questionnaires for respondents in different industries, which 
are too extensive to list here. All SAS questionnaires can be viewed at 
https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/sas/technical-documentation/questionnaire-app.html.
    Type of Review: Regular submission, Request for a Revision of a 
Currently Approved Collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit organizations; Not-
for-profit institutions; Government hospitals located in the United 
States.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 90,590.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 3 to 6 hours depending on 
questionnaire.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 139,889.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0. (This is not the cost of 
respondents' time, but the indirect costs respondents may incur for 
such things as purchases of specialized software or hardware needed to 
report, or expenditures for accounting or records maintenance services 
required specifically by the collection.)
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C. Sections 131 and 182.

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 submitted in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. The Census Bureau will include, or summarize, each 
comment in the request to OMB to approve this ICR.

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Before including address, phone number, email address, or other 
personal identifying information, commenters should be aware that the 
entire comment--including personal identifying information--may be made 
publicly available at any time. While commenters may ask the Census 
Bureau to withhold personal identifying information from public review, 
the Census Bureau cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so.

Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2020-20794 Filed 9-18-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P