[Federal Register: October 17, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 200)]
[Notices]
[Page 58805]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17oc07-27]
[[Page 58805]]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of
information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44
U.S.C. chapter 35).
Agency: U.S. Census Bureau.
Title: Business and Professional Classification Report.
Form Number(s): SQ-CLASS.
OMB Control Number: 0607-0189.
Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Burden Hours: 10,835.
Number of Respondents: 50,000.
Average Hours per Response: 13 minutes.
Needs and Uses: The Economic Census represents the primary source
of facts about the structure and function of the U.S. economy,
providing essential information to government and business to help
guide sound decisions. Conducted every five years, the data help build
the foundation for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and other indicators of
economic performance. Critical to its conduct is the accuracy and
reliability of the Business Register data which provides the Economic
Census with its establishment enumeration list. Equally important is
that the status of these establishments and related industry codes be
as up-to-date as possible. The primary purpose of the ``Business and
Professional Classification Report'' or SQ-CLASS is to meet this need
for the retail, wholesale, and services sectors. Firms will be mailed
five-year Economic Census forms specifically tailored to their industry
based on the classification information we collect using the SQ-CLASS.
In addition, the SQ-CLASS report is used to collect information
needed to keep the retail, wholesale, and services samples current with
the business universe. Because of rapid changes in the marketplace
caused by the emergence of new businesses, the death of others, and
changes in company organization, the Census Bureau canvasses a sample
of new Employer Identification Numbers (EINs) obtained from the
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Social Security Administration
(SSA).
Each firm selected in this sample is canvassed once for data on the
establishment(s) associated with the new EIN. The completed SQ-CLASS
form provides sales, receipts, or revenue; company organization; new or
refined NAICS codes; and other key information needed for sampling to
maintain proper coverage of the universe.
Based on the collected information, EINs meeting the criteria for
inclusion in the Census Bureau's retail, wholesale, or service surveys
are subjected to second sampling. The retail and wholesale EINs
selected in this second sampling are placed on a panel to report in our
monthly surveys. Additional panels of selected units are included in
the annual surveys. The selected service EINs report on an annual and/
or quarterly basis.
Given the Census-related usage of this collection, and the crucial
need to collect accurate classification information, we are requesting
mandatory authority to conduct this survey under Title 13, United
States Code, Sections 131 and 193. Section 193 provides the specific
authority to collect supplementary statistics related to the conduct of
the census on a mandatory basis.
There are only minimal changes to the form and instruction sheet.
The wording of the questions and instructions for both sales and
inventory will be reworded to be in line with the Census Bureau's
monthly and annual surveys. These changes will not increase burden and
will provide for consistency within the economic surveys at the Census
Bureau. The letter to respondents, which accompanies the SQ-CLASS has
been revised to reflect the mandatory nature of the collection.
The Census Bureau selects a first phase sample of EINs recently
assigned by the IRS. Selected EINs are mailed a SQ-CLASS form to
determine a measure of size (based on sales, receipts, or revenue);
company organization; establishment information; and wholesale
inventories and type of operation data. Retail, wholesale, or service
EINs that are not affiliated with previously selected units are
subjected to second phase sampling, with selected sampling units added
to a survey panel. This methodology updates the current retail,
wholesale, and service samples with a sample of new firms entering the
business sector. The information obtained from the SQ-CLASS form is
also used for tabulating small businesses in succeeding economic
censuses (because small businesses are not mailed an economic census
report form) and for the Census Bureau's Annual County Business
Patterns Programs.
Although no statistical tables are prepared or published, the
operations of this business birth survey directly and critically affect
the quality of the estimates published for the Current Retail and
Inventory Surveys (OMB Approval 0607-0717), Advance Monthly Retail
Trade and Food Services Survey (OMB Approval 0607-0104), Monthly
Wholesale Trade Survey (OMB 0607-0190), Services Annual Survey (OMB
Approval 0607-0422), Annual Retail Trade Survey (OMB Approval 0607-
0013), Annual Trade Survey (OMB Approval 0607-0195), and Quarterly
Service Survey (OMB Approval 0607-0907). Indeed, all of these surveys
would be seriously deficient without these business birth survey
operations that keep their sample universe current.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; Not-
for-profit institutions.
Frequency: One time.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., Sections 131 & 193.
OMB Desk Officer: Brian Harris-Kojetin, (202) 395-7314.
Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained
by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance
Officer, (202) 482-0266, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th and
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at
dhynek@doc.gov).
Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice
to Brian Harris-Kojetin, OMB Desk Officer either by fax (202-395-7245)
or e-mail (bharrisk@omb.eop.gov).
Dated: October 11, 2007.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E7-20428 Filed 10-16-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P