Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; 2008 Business Research and Development Survey Pilot: The Redesigned Survey of Industrial Research and Development, 21309-21310 [E8-8429]
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 77 / Monday, April 21, 2008 / Notices
Mandatory surveys
Voluntary surveys
MA333N—Fluid Power Products for Motion Control (Including Aerospace)
MA335F—Major Household Appliances
MA335K—Wiring Devices and Supplies
MA314Q—Carpets and Rugs
MA321T—Lumber Production and Mill Stocks
MA325G—Pharmaceutical Preparations, except Biologicals
MA333P—Pumps and Compressors
MA335E—Electric Housewares and Fans
MA335J—Insulated Wire and Cable
MA336G—Aerospace Industry
M311H—Fats and Oils (Warehouse)
M311L—Fats and Oils (Renderers)
M311M—Fats and Oils (Consumers)
M311N—Fats and Oils (Producers)
MA327E—Consumer, Scientific, Technical, and Industrial Glassware
MA333D—Construction Machinery
MA333F—Mining, Machinery and Mineral Processing Equipment
MA334C—Control Instruments
MA334D—Defense, Navigational, & Aerospace Electronics
MA334T—Meters & Test Devices
MA334M—Consumer Electronics
MA334Q—Semiconductors, Printed Circuit Boards, and Other Electronic Components
MA336G—Aerospace Industry
M311J—Oilseeds, Beans, and Nuts (Primary Producers)
M313N—Cotton and Raw Linters in Public Storage
M313P—Consumption on the Cotton System and Stocks
MQ313A—Textiles
MQ315A—Apparel
MQ333W—Metalworking Machinery
M311C—Corn (Wet & Dry Producers of Ethanol)
II. Method of Collection
The Census Bureau will use mail out/
mail back survey forms to collect data.
It is requested that respondents return
monthly report forms within 10 days,
quarterly report forms within 15 days,
and annual report forms within 30 days
of the initial mailing. Telephone calls
and/or letters encouraging participation
will be mailed to respondents who have
not responded by the designated time.
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0607–0476.
Form Number: See Chart Above.
Type of Review: Regular submission.
Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
20,184.
Estimated Time per Response: 49
minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: 28,280.
Estimated Total Annual Cost: $0.
Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory,
voluntary.
Legal Authority: Title 13, United
States Code, sections 61, 182, 224, and
225.
MQ325F—Paint, Varnish, and Lacquer
MQ334P—Telecommunications
MQ334R—Computers & Peripheral Equipment
*These voluntary surveys have mandatory annual counterparts.
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: April 15, 2008.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief
Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E8–8426 Filed 4–18–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–07–P
Jkt 214001
PO 00000
Census Bureau
Proposed Information Collection;
Comment Request; 2008 Business
Research and Development Survey
Pilot: The Redesigned Survey of
Industrial Research and Development
AGENCY:
ACTION:
U.S. Census Bureau.
Notice.
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)).
To ensure consideration, written
comments must be submitted on or
before June 20, 2008.
DATES:
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).
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether
the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance
16:59 Apr 18, 2008
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
ADDRESSES:
IV. Request for Comments
VerDate Aug<31>2005
21309
Frm 00007
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
E:\FR\FM\21APN1.SGM
21APN1
21310
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 77 / Monday, April 21, 2008 / Notices
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection
instrument(s) and instructions should
be directed to Richard Hough, U.S.
Census Bureau, MCD HQ–7K150A, 4600
Silver Hill Rd., Suitland, MD 20746,
(301) 763–4823 (or via the internet at
richard.s.hough@census.gov).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
I. Abstract
The U.S. Census Bureau, with support
from the National Science Foundation
(NSF), plans to conduct a pilot of the
new Business Research and
Development Survey (BRDS) for the
2008 survey year. The BRDS represents
a revision to the currently approved
annual collection of the Survey of
Industrial Research and Development.
The Census Bureau has conducted the
Survey of Industrial Research and
Development (SIRD) since 1957,
collecting primarily financial
information on the systematic work
companies were undertaking with the
goal of discovering new knowledge or
using existing knowledge to develop
new or improved goods and services.
During the past 50 years, the NSF and
Census Bureau have made changes to
the content of the SIRD based on input
from companies responding to the
survey as well as users of the data. The
fundamental concepts of the survey
were largely untouched. More recently,
prompted by recommendations from the
2005 Committee on National Statistics
(CNSTAT) Report, Measuring Research
and Development Expenditures in the
U.S. Economy, the NSF and Census
Bureau began a full-scale redesign of the
SIRD. The goal of the redesign was to
produce high-quality, relevant data on
R&D in the business sector that took into
account the changing reality of R&D and
innovation.
An inter-agency team evaluated the
need for different types of data as well
as the availability of those data within
company records. This evaluation has
resulted in numerous proposed changes.
The content changes include but are not
limited to:
• Adopting a definition of R&D based
on accounting standards.
• Collecting worldwide R&D of
domestic companies.
• Collecting business segment detail.
• Collecting R&D related capital
expenditures.
• Collecting more detailed data about
the R&D workforce.
• Gauging the R&D strategy of
companies, and the potential impact of
R&D on the market.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:59 Apr 18, 2008
Jkt 214001
• Identifying R&D directed to
application areas of particular national
interest.
• Measuring intellectual property and
technology transfer.
Because of the broad scope of the data
that will be requested, it is unlikely that
a single point of contact within each
company will be best able to answer all
the questions. The BRDS will utilize a
modular instrument that will facilitate
obtaining of information from various
contacts within each company that have
the best understanding of the concepts
and definitions being presented as well
as access to the information necessary to
provide the most accurate response. The
modules have been defined by grouping
questions based on subject matter areas
within the company and currently
include: A financial module focused on
company R&D expenses; a human
resources module; an R&D strategy and
management module; an IP and
technology transfer module; and a
module focused on R&D that is funded
or paid for by third parties. A web
version of the survey is also being
developed using this same approach.
This modular instrument design is a
departure from the SIRD and poses
unique challenges in terms of contact
strategies. Only companies identified as
having a significant amount of R&D
expenses will receive the modular
version of the BRDS. All other
companies will receive a shorter version
of the survey.
The 2008 BRDS pilot will be mailed
to the entire sample. A comprehensive
response analysis study will be
conducted prior to the 2009 survey year.
We will utilize the historic time series
to evaluate data items that are intended
to collect the same concepts presented
in the SIRD.
II. Method of Collection
The Census Bureau will use mail out/
mail back survey forms and a web based
collection for the pilot. Companies will
be asked to respond within 60 days of
the initial mail out.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0607–0912.
Form Number: BRD1 & BRD1A.
Type of Review: Regular submission.
Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations; not for-profit
institutions; r-profit; non-farm
companies with 5 or more employees.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
40,000.
Estimated Time per Response: 30
minutes to 24 hours (Average time: 4
hours).
Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: 155,300.
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Estimated Total Annual Cost: $0.
Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C. 182,
224, and 225.
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: April 15, 2008.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief
Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E8–8429 Filed 4–18–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–07–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
Applications for Duty–Free Entry of
Scientific Instruments
Pursuant to Section 6(c) of the
Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Materials Importation Act of 1966 (Pub.
L. 89–651, as amended by Pub. L. 106–
36; 80 Stat. 897; 15 CFR part 301), we
invite comments on the question of
whether instruments of equivalent
scientific value, for the purposes for
which the instruments shown below are
intended to be used, are being
manufactured in the United States.
Comments must comply with 15 CFR
301.5(a)(3) and (4) of the regulations and
be postmarked on or before May 12,
2008. Address written comments to
Statutory Import Programs Staff, Room
2104, U.S. Department of Commerce,
Washington, D.C. 20230. Applications
may be examined between 8:30 A.M.
and 5:00 P.M. at the U.S. Department of
Commerce in Room 2104.
Docket Number: 08–010. Applicant:
University of Dayton Research Institute,
300 College Park, Dayton, OH 45469–
0106. Instrument: Electron Microscope,
E:\FR\FM\21APN1.SGM
21APN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 77 (Monday, April 21, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21309-21310]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-8429]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; 2008 Business
Research and Development Survey Pilot: The Redesigned Survey of
Industrial Research and Development
AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 June 20, 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).
[[Page 21310]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions
should be directed to Richard Hough, U.S. Census Bureau, MCD HQ-7K150A,
4600 Silver Hill Rd., Suitland, MD 20746, (301) 763-4823 (or via the
internet at richard.s.hough@census.gov).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The U.S. Census Bureau, with support from the National Science
Foundation (NSF), plans to conduct a pilot of the new Business Research
and Development Survey (BRDS) for the 2008 survey year. The BRDS
represents a revision to the currently approved annual collection of
the Survey of Industrial Research and Development.
The Census Bureau has conducted the Survey of Industrial Research
and Development (SIRD) since 1957, collecting primarily financial
information on the systematic work companies were undertaking with the
goal of discovering new knowledge or using existing knowledge to
develop new or improved goods and services. During the past 50 years,
the NSF and Census Bureau have made changes to the content of the SIRD
based on input from companies responding to the survey as well as users
of the data. The fundamental concepts of the survey were largely
untouched. More recently, prompted by recommendations from the 2005
Committee on National Statistics (CNSTAT) Report, Measuring Research
and Development Expenditures in the U.S. Economy, the NSF and Census
Bureau began a full-scale redesign of the SIRD. The goal of the
redesign was to produce high-quality, relevant data on R&D in the
business sector that took into account the changing reality of R&D and
innovation.
An inter-agency team evaluated the need for different types of data
as well as the availability of those data within company records. This
evaluation has resulted in numerous proposed changes. The content
changes include but are not limited to:
Adopting a definition of R&D based on accounting
standards.
Collecting worldwide R&D of domestic companies.
Collecting business segment detail.
Collecting R&D related capital expenditures.
Collecting more detailed data about the R&D workforce.
Gauging the R&D strategy of companies, and the potential
impact of R&D on the market.
Identifying R&D directed to application areas of
particular national interest.
Measuring intellectual property and technology transfer.
Because of the broad scope of the data that will be requested, it
is unlikely that a single point of contact within each company will be
best able to answer all the questions. The BRDS will utilize a modular
instrument that will facilitate obtaining of information from various
contacts within each company that have the best understanding of the
concepts and definitions being presented as well as access to the
information necessary to provide the most accurate response. The
modules have been defined by grouping questions based on subject matter
areas within the company and currently include: A financial module
focused on company R&D expenses; a human resources module; an R&D
strategy and management module; an IP and technology transfer module;
and a module focused on R&D that is funded or paid for by third
parties. A web version of the survey is also being developed using this
same approach. This modular instrument design is a departure from the
SIRD and poses unique challenges in terms of contact strategies. Only
companies identified as having a significant amount of R&D expenses
will receive the modular version of the BRDS. All other companies will
receive a shorter version of the survey.
The 2008 BRDS pilot will be mailed to the entire sample. A
comprehensive response analysis study will be conducted prior to the
2009 survey year. We will utilize the historic time series to evaluate
data items that are intended to collect the same concepts presented in
the SIRD.
II. Method of Collection
The Census Bureau will use mail out/ mail back survey forms and a
web based collection for the pilot. Companies will be asked to respond
within 60 days of the initial mail out.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0607-0912.
Form Number: BRD1 & BRD1A.
Type of Review: Regular submission.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; not
for-profit institutions; r-profit; non-farm companies with 5 or more
employees.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 40,000.
Estimated Time per Response: 30 minutes to 24 hours (Average time:
4 hours).
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 155,300.
Estimated Total Annual Cost: $0.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C. 182, 224, and 225.
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: April 15, 2008.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E8-8429 Filed 4-18-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P
