[Federal Register: December 14, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 240)]
[Notices]
[Page 71116-71117]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14de07-25]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Census 2010
Participation Survey
AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
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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: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on
or before February 12, 2008.
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 Nancy A. Bates, U.S. Census Bureau, C2PO, Room
8H491, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Washington, DC 20233 at 301-763-5248 (or
via the Internet at Nancy.A.Bates@census.gov).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The Census Bureau plans to request clearance to conduct the Census
Participation Survey to measure public knowledge, awareness, and
perceptions about the 2010 Census. This research is designed to
complement previous research conducted for Census 2000 as well as the
Census Planning Database (a geographic summary file with Census 2000
response information) to inform the strategic direction of the 2010
Census Integrated Communications Plan (ICP).
Every ten years, the Census Bureau is congressionally mandated to
count everyone (citizens and non-citizens) residing in the United
States. An accurate count is critical for many reasons including but
not limited to:
Congressional reapportionment,
Redistricting congressional boundaries;
Community planning; and
Distribution of public funds and program development.
The role of the ICP is to increase public awareness and motivate people
to respond to the census promptly, saving millions of taxpayer dollars.
The specific objectives of the ICP are:
Increase mail response;
Improve cooperation with enumerators; and
Improve overall accuracy and reduce differential
undercount
For the first time in Census 2000, the Census Bureau ran a paid
advertising campaign to support Census data collection activities. This
campaign was considered a very successful initiative and one of several
reasons cited with helping to reverse declining mail response rates. In
developing the 2000 campaign, the Census Bureau relied on one's
likelihood to engage in civic activities as a proxy to one's likelihood
to respond to the census. The campaign was built on the slogan, ``This
is your Future. Don't leave it blank.'' The intent of this slogan and
related variations was to incite a sense of personal benefit, community
benefit, and infer a sense of urgency. The target mail response rate
for the 2010 Census has been set at 69 percent, higher than the 67
percent obtained in Census 2000. To support this goal, the ICP includes
a communications campaign based on behavior during the 2000 Census and
current knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, barriers, and motivations
specific to 2010 Census participation. This model will provide
contemporary insight into public motivations specific to the census.
There are many commonalities to Census 2000 such as low Census
favorability; lack of
[[Page 71117]]
awareness and personal relevancy; and many motivators that were
leveraged in 2000 still resonate. However, the social and political
landscape has shifted since Census 2000 and the Census Bureau is facing
new challenges such as:
Distrust in government is higher than ever;
Confidentiality issues heightened;
Shifting core values (quality of life; family values);
Definition of community is broadening;
Recent debates on immigration; and
Increased language barriers.
The purpose of the Census Participation Survey is to inform
tactical and strategic decisions for the ICP. The collected data will
not be used to produce official Census Bureau estimates.
II. Method of Collection
The Census Participation Survey will be administered to a sample of
adults. Most interviews will be selected though random-digit-dialing
and administered via Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI),
while a small portion of the interviews will be conducted in-person.
Some of the CATI interviews will be conducted on the respondent's cell
phone. A $10 gift will be provided to respondents as compensation for
costs (inbound charges) incurred from the cell phone interview.
Additionally, a $10 gift will be provided to respondents to the in-
person interview to increase the response rate. When an address is
available, respondents will be notified of the data collection with a
pre-notification letter. The Census Participation Survey will focus on
the following topic areas:
Awareness about the census and attitudes and perceptions
about the Census Bureau;
Barriers and motivations for census participation;
Potential 2010 Census messaging alternatives;
Current issues and their relevancy to census
participation;
Individual-level participation in Census 2000 (self-
reported) and participation intent for the 2010 Census; and
Demographics, socioeconomics, and psychographics.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: None.
Form Number: CPS-2008.
Type of Review: Regular submission.
Affected Public: Individuals or households.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 4,000.
Estimated Time per Response: 25 minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,667.
Estimated Total Annual Cost: There is no cost to the respondents
other than their time.
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C. Section 182.
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: December 6, 2007.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E7-24199 Filed 12-13-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P