Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Services Surveys: BE-125, Quarterly Survey of Transactions in Selected Services and Intellectual Property With Foreign Persons, 46243 [2015-18873]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• Bureau of Economic Analysis

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 149 (Tuesday, August 4, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 46243]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-18873]



[[Page 46243]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Economic Analysis


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Services 
Surveys: BE-125, Quarterly Survey of Transactions in Selected Services 
and Intellectual Property With Foreign Persons

AGENCY: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 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 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 October 5, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230, or via email at 
jjessup@doc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Christopher Stein, Chief, Services Surveys Branch BE-50 
(SSB), Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce, 
Washington, DC 20230; phone: (202) 606-9850; fax: (202) 606-5318; or 
via email at christopher.stein@bea.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Quarterly Survey of Transactions in Selected Services and 
Intellectual Property with Foreign Persons (BE-125) is a survey that 
collects data from U.S. persons that engage in covered transactions 
with foreign persons in selected services or intellectual property. A 
U.S. person must report if it had sales of covered services or 
intellectual property to foreign persons that exceeded $6 million for 
the previous fiscal year, or are expected to exceed that amount during 
the current fiscal year, or if it had purchases of covered services or 
intellectual property from foreign persons that exceeded $4 million for 
the previous fiscal year, or are expected to exceed that amount during 
the current fiscal year.
    The data are needed to monitor U.S. trade in services, to analyze 
the impact on the U.S. and foreign economies, to compile and improve 
the U.S. economic accounts, to support U.S. commercial policy on trade 
in services, to conduct trade promotion, and to improve the ability of 
U.S. businesses to identify and evaluate market opportunities. The data 
are used in estimating the services component of the U.S. international 
transactions accounts and national income and product accounts.
    The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) is proposing minor additions 
and modifications to the current BE-125 survey. The effort to keep 
current reporting requirements generally unchanged is intended to 
minimize respondent burden while considering the needs of data users. 
Existing language in the instructions and definitions will be reviewed 
and adjusted as necessary to clarify survey requirements.

II. Method of Collection

    Form BE-125 is a quarterly report that must be filed within 45 days 
after the end of each fiscal quarter, or within 90 days after the close 
of the fiscal year. BEA offers its electronic filing option, the eFile 
system, for use in reporting on Form BE-125. For more information about 
eFile, go to www.bea.gov/efile.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0608-0067.
    Form Number: BE-125.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 8,400 annually (2,100 filed each 
quarter; 1,600 reporting mandatory data, and 500 that would file other 
responses).
    Estimated Time Per Response: 16 hours is the average for those 
reporting data and 1 hour is the average for other responses, but hours 
may vary considerably among respondents because of differences in 
company size and complexity.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 104,400.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.

Legal Authority: International Investment and Trade in Services Survey 
Act (Pub. L. 94-472, 22 U.S.C. 3101-3108, as amended).

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 will 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 28, 2015.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-18873 Filed 8-3-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-06-P