Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Market Research To Broaden and Deepen U.S. Exporter Base, 2031 [2012-598]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• International Trade Administration

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 9 (Friday, January 13, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 2031]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-598]



[[Page 2031]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Market Research 
To Broaden and Deepen U.S. Exporter Base

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, 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.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before March 13, 2012.

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 the Internet 
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 Gary Rand; phone number: (202) 482-0691; email address: 
Gary.Rand@trade.gov; fax number: (202) 482-5361.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    In an effort to remain relevant to the marketplace and optimize our 
respective operations, the Commercial Service (CS), Manufacturing 
Extension Partnership (MEP), Census Bureau (Census), and Export-Import 
Bank (Ex-Im) have formed a project team to conduct market segmentation 
research and analysis. The market segmentation is a systematic approach 
for identifying clusters of companies with similar needs and behavior, 
and developing service offerings and sales/marketing approaches 
targeted at segments with the greatest return of investment. The 
purpose of this initiative is to gain market knowledge and generate 
statistically valid characterizations about the needs and buying 
behavior of exporting companies, with a particular focus on moderate 
exporters (those U.S. firms that currently export, but on a limited or 
reactive basis and whose international sales comprise less than 10% of 
total sales or whose international sales growth is less than 10% per 
year). From this research, services, pricing, and messaging may be 
repositioned to address the exporting needs of small and medium-sized 
businesses.
    A telephone survey was chosen over a web survey for the following 
reasons: (1) Since no databases of current or potential exporters is 
available from a governmental agency, the third party vendor will 
purchase a list from Dun and Bradstreet. The list contains contact 
information including phone numbers but not email addresses; (2) Firms 
do not offer email address databases, to obtain email addresses, the 
addresses must be manually extracted from a firm's Web site; (3) While 
web surveys are easier to administer and provide a convenient option 
for the respondent, they do not have as high a completion rate as phone 
surveys. This is especially true when there is no incentive for the 
respondent to complete the survey; and (4) The web survey has more 
potential to be completed by a respondent other than the targeted 
respondent, i.e. there is no way to verify who completed the survey.

II. Method of Collection

    The CS will contract with a third party vendor (TBD) to conduct 
surveys to gain insight into the attitudes, needs, and behaviors of 
moderate exporters.
    The third party vendor will recruit firms over the phone using 
lists obtained from other third party vendors. Data collection will be 
conducted during a telephone survey.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0625-0264.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently 
approved information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,600.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 800.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

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: January 10, 2012.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-598 Filed 1-12-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P