[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 240 (Wednesday, December 15, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 78210]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-31406]


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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: Information and Communication Technology Survey.
    Form Number(s): ICT-1(S), ICT-1(M), ICT-1(L).
    OMB Control Number: 0607-0909.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Burden Hours: 84,610.
    Number of Respondents: 47,250.
    Average Hours per Response: 1.8 hours.
    Needs and Uses: Economic policymakers are concerned about the lack 
of available data related to e-business infrastructure investment. Such 
data are critical for evaluating productivity growth, changes in 
industrial capacity, and current economic developments. Rapid advances 
in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment have 
resulted in these assets having short useful lives and being replaced 
much more faster than other types of equipment. Companies are expensing 
the full cost of such assets during the current annual period rather 
than capitalizing the value of such assets and expensing the cost over 
two or more years. In some cases this is due not only to the short 
useful life of the asset, but also to the fact that companies have 
varying dollar levels for capitalization.
    The Annual Capital Expenditures Survey (ACES) (OMB Project 0607-
0782) currently collects summary data on business capital expenditures 
annually and detailed data on types of structures and equipment every 
five years. The fact that the ACES program does not include non-
capitalized expenditures for e-business infrastructure and infrequently 
collects detailed data on types of structures and equipment creates 
serious data gaps. To fill these gaps and as a supplement to the ACES 
survey, the Census Bureau created the Information and Communication 
Technology Survey (ICTS). The ICTS uses the ACES sampling, follow-up 
and estimation methodologies including mailing to the same employer 
companies.
    This request is for a continuation of a currently approved 
collection and will cover the 2010 through 2012 ICTS (conducted in 
fiscal years 2011 through 2013).
    The ICTS is an important part of the Federal Government's effort to 
improve and supplement ongoing statistical programs. The Bureau of 
Economic Analysis (BEA), Federal Reserve Board, Bureau of Labor 
Statistics and industry analysts use these data to evaluate 
productivity and economic growth prospects. In addition, the ICTS 
provides improved source data significant to BEA's estimate of the 
investment component of Gross Domestic Product, capital stock 
estimates, and capital flow tables.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., Sections 182, 224, and 225.
    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 6616, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at 
[email protected]).
    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 ([email protected]).

    Dated: December 9, 2010.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2010-31406 Filed 12-14-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P