[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 45 (Friday, March 7, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11163-11164]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-5516]


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PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTY CORPORATION


Proposed Submission of Information Collection for OMB Review; 
Comment Request; Customer Satisfaction Surveys and Focus Groups

AGENCY: Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

ACTION: Notice of intention to request extension of OMB approval.

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SUMMARY: The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (``PBGC'') intends to 
request that the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') extend its 
approval of a collection of information under the Paperwork Reduction 
Act. The purpose of the information collection, which will be conducted 
through focus groups and surveys over a three-year period, is to help 
the PBGC assess the efficiency and effectiveness with which it serves 
its customers and to design actions to address identified problems. 
This notice informs the public of the PBGC's intent and solicits public 
comment on the collection of information.

DATES: Comments should be submitted by May 6, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to the Office of the General Counsel, 
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, 1200 K Street, NW., Washington, 
DC 20005-4026, or delivered to Suite 340 at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas H. Gabriel, Attorney, Office of 
the General Counsel, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, 1200 K 
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20005-4026, 202-326-4024. (TTY/TDD users 
may call the Federal relay service toll-free at 1-800-877-8339 and ask 
to be connected to 202-326-4024.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a 
person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless 
it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The PBGC intends to 
request that OMB extend its approval, for a three-year period, of a 
generic collection of information consisting of customer satisfaction 
focus groups and surveys (OMB control number 1212-0053; expires 6/30/
2003). The information collection will further the goals of Executive 
Order 12862, Setting Customer Service Standards, which states the 
Federal Government must seek to provide ``the highest quality of 
service delivered to customers by private organizations providing a 
comparable or analogous service.''
    The PBGC uses customer satisfaction focus groups and surveys to 
find out about the needs and expectations of its customers and assess 
how well it is meeting those needs and expectations. By keeping these 
avenues of communication open, the PBGC can continually improve service 
to its customers, including plan participants and beneficiaries, plan 
sponsors and their affiliates, plan administrators, pension 
practitioners, and others involved in the establishment, operation and 
termination of plans covered by the PBGC's insurance program. Because 
the areas of concern to the PBGC and its customers vary and may quickly 
change, it is important that the PBGC have the ability to evaluate 
customer concerns quickly by developing new vehicles for gathering 
information under this generic approval.
    Participation in the focus groups and surveys will be voluntary. 
The PBGC will consult with the Office of Management and Budget 
regarding each specific information collection during the approval 
period.
    The PBGC estimates that the annual burden for this collection of 
information will total 2,500 hours for 9,500 respondents.
    The PBGC is specifically seeking public comments to:
    (1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and
    (4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology e.g., permitting electronic 
submission of responses.


[[Page 11164]]


    Issued at Washington, DC, this 3rd day of March 2003.
Stuart A. Sirkin,
Director, Corporate Policy and Research Department, Pension Benefit 
Guaranty Corporation.
[FR Doc. 03-5516 Filed 3-6-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7708-01-P