[Federal Register: July 30, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 146)]
[Notices]
[Page 44738-44739]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30jy03-34]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau
Service Annual Survey
ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.
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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
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)).
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before September 29,
2003.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th
and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet
at DHynek@doc.gov).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions
should be directed to Ruth Bramblett, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 2775-FOB
3, Washington, DC 20233-6500, (301) 763-7089 or via e-mail at
ruth.ann.bramblett@census.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
Today, about 50 percent of all economic activity is accounted for
by services that are narrowly defined to exclude retail and wholesale
trade. The Census Bureau currently measures the total output of these
selected service industries annually in its Service Annual Survey. This
survey now covers all or some of the following eight sectors:
Transportation and Warehousing; Information; Finance and Insurance;
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing; Professional, Scientific, and
Technical Services; Administration and Support and Waste Management and
[[Page 44739]]
Remediation Services; Health Care and Social Assistance; Arts,
Entertainment, and Recreation; and Other Services.
The Census Bureau proposes an expansion of the Service Annual
Survey to provide data on product composition of service industry
output and to provide data that will improve the quality of value-added
measures for these service industries.
We will begin to implement, incrementally, the collection of
detailed service products defined in the provisional North American
Product Classification System (NAPCS) into the 2003 Service Annual
Survey. Provisional NAPCS products were added to the 2001 Service
Annual Survey for most of the Information Sector (NAICS 51, except 512)
and Computer Systems Design and Related Services (NAICS 5415). For
2003, we plan to add provisional NAPCS products to the Motion Picture
and Sound Recording Industries (NAICS 512) and to selected Financial
Services (NAICS 5231 and 5239). In the 2004 Service Annual Survey, we
will begin collecting NAPCS product detail for Professional,
Scientific, and Technical Services (NAICS 54); Administrative Support
and Waste Management and Remediation Services (NAICS 56); and Hospitals
and Nursing and Residential Care Facilities (NAICS 622 and 623). We
will complete NAPCS product coverage of all remaining industries in the
2005 Service Annual Survey.
We also plan to collect annual data on the cost of selected
purchased services and materials in the 2003 Service Annual Survey for
the following: Information (NAICS 51); selected Financial Services
(NAICS 5231 and 5239); Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
(NAICS 54); Administrative and Support and Waste Management and
Remediation Services (NAICS 56); and Hospitals and Nursing and
Residential Care Facilities (NAICS 622 and 623). For the 2004 survey,
we will begin collecting these data for all remaining industries
covered in the Service Annual Survey. Key data items include the cost
of materials and supplies other than for resale and contract labor; and
purchased telecommunications services, software and data processing
services, management and consulting services, fuels, electricity, lease
and rental payments, and all other purchased services. The availability
of these data will greatly improve the quality of the intermediate-
inputs and value-added estimates in BEA's annual input-output and GDP
by industry accounts. Annual data on purchased services and materials
will also be used as indicators to update census year data collected on
the Business Expenses Survey.
The Census Bureau is authorized by Title 13, United States Code, to
conduct surveys necessary to furnish current data on subjects covered
by the major censuses. These surveys provide continuing and timely
national statistical data for the period between economic censuses.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), 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 (GDP) by
industry. Agencies of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) use
the transportation related data for policy development and program
management and evaluation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) uses
the data as inputs to its Producer Price Indexes and in developing
productivity measurements. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services (CMS) uses the health related data in the development of the
National Health Expenditure Accounts. The Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) uses the broadcasting and telecommunications 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. Private industry also uses the data as a tool for
marketing analysis.
Data are collected from all of the largest firms and from a sample
of small- and medium-sized businesses selected using a stratified
sampling procedure. The samples are reselected periodically, generally
at 5-year intervals. The largest firms continue to be canvassed when
the sample is re-drawn, while nearly all of the small- and medium-sized
firms from the prior sample are replaced. We collect these data by
using a mail-out/mail-back survey questionnaire.
II. Method of Collection
We collect this information by mail, fax, and telephone follow-up.
III. Data
OMB Number: 0607-0422.
Form Number: The Service Annual Survey program consists of 260
forms which are too numerous to list here.
Type of Review: Regular Submission.
Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit organizations, not-
for-profit institutions, and Government hospitals.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 50,000.
Estimated Time Per Response: On average, we expect 1 hour and 30
minutes as an estimate.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 58,249 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Cost: The cost to the respondents for fiscal
year 2004 is estimated to be $1,270,993 based on the median hourly
salary of $21.82 for accountants and auditors. (Occupational Employment
Statistics--Bureau of Labor Statistics ``2001 National Occupational
Employment and Wage Estimates'') http://www.bls.gov/oes/2001/oes132011.htm
.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code; Sections 182, 224,
and 225.
IV. Request for Comments
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, including through the use of
automated collection techniques or other forms of information
technology.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.
Dated: July 25, 2003.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-19421 Filed 7-29-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P