[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 47 (Friday, March 8, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16722-16723]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-04999]


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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; Business and Professional Classification Report

AGENCY: Census Bureau, Department of 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

[[Page 16723]]

notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment on the proposed 
extension of the Business and Professional Classification Report 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 May 7, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments by 
email to [email protected]. Please reference Business and 
Professional Classification Report in the subject line of your 
comments. You may also submit comments, identified by Docket Number 
USBC-2024-0004, to the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. All comments received are part of the public 
record. No comments will be posted to https://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 Scott Handmaker, Branch Chief, Classification Processing Branch, 
Economic Statistical Methods Division, (301) 763-7107, and 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau conducts the Business and Professional 
Classification Report to collect information from new businesses to 
obtain proper industry classification for use in economic surveys and 
the Economic Census. The survey, conducted quarterly with new 
respondents each quarter, samples businesses with newly assigned 
Employer Identification Numbers (EINs) from the Internal Revenue 
Service (IRS). Businesses can only be selected once for the survey. The 
survey collects data about a business in such areas as: primary 
business activity, company structure, size, and business operations. 
This information is used to update the sampling frame for current 
business surveys, which ensures high quality economic estimates. 
Additionally, by ensuring proper industry classification, this survey 
reduces burden for the businesses in the five-year Economic Census, as 
the questions in the census are tailored to the industry in which the 
business operates.
    Respondents will choose the economic sector of their business and 
then select from a list of business activities. If the respondent does 
not see their business activity listed, then they will provide a brief 
description of their business activity. This is the same methodology 
that the Census Bureau uses in the Economic Census to assign industry 
classification.
    Minimal, non-substantive changes will be made to the wording and 
organization of existing questions and instructions.

II. Method of Collection

    The Business and Professional Classification Report is primarily 
collected via the internet and telephone follow-up. Those selected for 
the survey receive an initial letter informing the respondents of their 
requirement to complete the survey as well as instructions on accessing 
the survey. Responses will be due approximately 30 days from initial 
mailing. Respondents will also receive a due date reminder 
approximately one week before responses are due. After the due date, an 
overdue notice is sent to nonrespondents. Lastly, the Census Bureau 
will conduct telephone and email follow-up operations for nonresponse. 
Throughout the survey, telephone assistance is available for 
respondents with questions and for those that cannot report over the 
internet.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0189.
    Form Number(s): SQ-CLASS.
    Type of Review: Regular submission, Request for an extension, 
without change of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Business or other for profit and not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 60,000 annually.
    Estimated Time per Response: 13 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 13,000.
    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, United States Code, sections 131, 182 
and 193.

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 Under Secretary for 
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2024-04999 Filed 3-7-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P