[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 7, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69220-69221]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-26515]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Ask U.S. Panel

AGENCY: Census Bureau, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 new information collection of the Ask U.S. Panel 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 February 7, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments by 
email to [email protected]. Please reference Ask U.S. Panel in the 
subject line of your comments. You may also submit comments, identified 
by Docket Number USBC-2021-0024, 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 Jennifer Hunter Childs, Assistant Center Chief, 202-603-4927 and 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Ask U.S. Panel (``the Panel'') will be a probability-based 
nationwide nationally representative survey panel for tracking public 
opinion on a variety of topics of interest to numerous federal agencies 
and their partners, and for conducting experimentation on alternative 
question wording and methodological approaches. The Ask U.S. Panel may 
also be used to collect nationwide rapid-response data to address 
emerging data needs.
    The Panel will be developed through a multi-year effort. The first 
year of data collection will focus on conducting a large-scale field 
Pilot Test. Nationally representative data collection based on a 
probability sample of US adults will begin in the year following the 
pilot test.
    The goal of the Ask U.S. Panel is to ensure availability of 
frequent data collection for nationwide estimates on a variety of 
topics and a variety of subgroups of the population, meeting standards 
for transparent quality reporting of the Federal Statistical Agencies 
and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
    The Panel is an interagency effort, with representatives from 
Census, the Economic Research Service, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 
the National Center for Health Statistics, the National Center for 
Science and Engineering Statistics, the National Center for Education 
Statistics, the Department of Defense, Department of Transportation, 
Department of Labor and the Social Security Administration guiding its 
design, content and methodological rigor, that will be used to meet 
data needs across the federal statistical system.
    Data will be collected in two distinct phases. In Phase 1, ten 
percent of the panel (1,700 people) will be recruited and surveyed as a 
proof-of-concept to refine methods. In Phase 2, the remainder of the 
panel (17,000 people) will be recruited and surveyed using methodology 
refined during Phase 1. This package describes both sets of data 
collection.

II. Method of Collection

    Using RTI's address-based frame, a probability sample of addresses 
in the United States (excluding territories) will be taken with 
oversamples of specific populations of interest, including households 
who face food insecurity and households who speak Spanish as a first 
language. A separate sample of active-duty military members and active-
duty military spouses will also be recruited from a frame provided by 
the Department of Defense. In the pilot, potential panelists will be 
mailed invitations and asked to participate in an online or inbound 
telephone screener. If the household qualifies, two members will be 
randomly sampled and invited to join the panel by completing the 
baseline questionnaire in the same mode (online or inbound telephone). 
Households who do not respond to the mailed invitation will be in 
sample for a face-to-face nonresponse follow up. In these cases, an 
interviewer would administer the screener and the baseline 
questionnaire. Participating households who do not have stable internet 
access will be offered a tablet device with cell service for the 
duration of the panel to facilitate participation. Panelists will be 
eligible for online topical surveys no more than once a month once they 
join the panel for up to 3 years.
    These methods may be refined between the pilot and the build-out of 
the panel.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-XXXX.

[[Page 69221]]

    Form Number(s): Not yet determined.
    Type of Review: Regular submission, New Information Collection 
Request.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2022: 1,700; 2023: 17,000; 2024: 
17,000.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 2022: 2 hours per respondent; 2023: 4 
hours per respondent; 2024: 4 hours per respondent.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2022: 3,400 hours; 2023: 
68,000 hours; 2024: 68,000 hours.
    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: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: The Panel is being developed under a cooperative 
agreement awarded by the Census Bureau pursuant to the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act of 2021, Public Law 116-260, section 110. Data 
collection from the Panel for Census Bureau sponsored surveys is 
authorized by Title 13, Sections, 131, 141, 161, 181, 182, 193, and 
301. Data collection from the Panel for surveys sponsored by other 
agencies is authorized by 13 U.S.C. 8(b), where the Census Bureau is 
the collection agent, 44 U.S. Code 3509, where OMB can direct data 
collection, and the various U.S. Code titles that authorize those 
agencies to collect information, including but not limited to title 49, 
section 329 for Bureau of Transportation Statistics collections, and 
the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002, 20 U.S.C. 9543) 
for National Center for Education Statistics surveys.
    The confidentiality of information collected on topical surveys in 
this panel is assured by CIPSEA, Title 13 United States Code, or other 
applicable titles which authorize the collection of information.

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 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. 2021-26515 Filed 12-6-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P