Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; 2012 Survey of Business Owners and Self-Employed Persons (SBO), 31566-31567 [2012-12909]

Download as PDF 31566 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 103 / Tuesday, May 29, 2012 / Notices Done in Washington, DC, this 23rd day of May 2012. Kevin Shea, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2012–13016 Filed 5–25–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P Meeting agenda and status can be found at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ r2/rac-colorado. The Recreation RAC is authorized by the Federal Land Recreation Enhancement Act, which was signed into law by President Bush in December 2004. Dated: May 18, 2012. Maribeth Gustafson, Deputy Regional Forester, Operations, Rocky Mountain Region. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Notice of Meeting; Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act [FR Doc. 2012–12731 Filed 5–25–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–11–M Rocky Mountain Region, Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of Meeting. AGENCY: The Colorado Recreation Resource Advisory Committee will tentatively meet in Colorado Springs, CO. The purpose of the meeting is to continue to provide new members with the information they need to be effective committee members; to elect a Chair and Vice-Chair; and to review proposals for fee changes and new fee projects. These fee proposals will tentatively include two new cabin rentals, a new fee at the Buckeye Group Site, fee changes to Green Mountain Reservoir and the elimination of fees at Cataract Lake. There will also be an update of changes at the Mt. Evans fee site. Proposals can be found at https:// www.fs.usda.gov/goto/r2/rac-colorado. DATES: The meeting will be held June 12, 2012 from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and June 13 from 8 a.m.–1:00 p.m. or when adjourned. This meeting will only be held if a quorum is present. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center, 314 West Bijou Street, Colorado Springs, CO in the Bordeaux Room. Send written comments to Rick Cooksey, Designated Federal Officer, 2468 Jackson Street, Laramie, WY 82070 or rcooksey@fs.fed.us. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jane Leche, Colorado Recreation Resource Advisory Committee Coordinator, at 303–275–5349 or jleche@fs.fed.us. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The meeting is open to the public. Committee discussion is limited to Forest Service staff and Committee members. However, persons who wish to bring recreation fee matters to the attention of the Committee may file written statements with the Committee staff before or after the meeting. A public input session will be provided and individuals who made written requests by May 29, 2012 will have the opportunity to address the Committee at the meeting. srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:12 May 25, 2012 Jkt 226001 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE U.S. Census Bureau Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; 2012 Survey of Business Owners and Self-Employed Persons (SBO) U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: 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 July 30, 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(s) and instructions should be directed to Katherine Russell, U.S. Census Bureau, CSD, 6K280A, Washington, DC 20233–6400, (301) 763– 7094, katherine.russell@census.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: I. Abstract The Census Bureau plans to conduct the 2012 Survey of Business Owners and Self-Employed Persons (SBO). In the SBO, businesses are asked several questions about their business as well as several questions about the gender, ethnicity, race, and veteran status of the PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 principal owner(s). This survey provides the only comprehensive, regularly collected source of information on the characteristics of U.S. businesses by ownership category, i.e., by gender, ethnicity, race, and veteran status. The survey is conducted as part of the economic census program. The economic census is required by law to be taken every 5 years under Title 13 of the United States Code, Sections 131, 193, and 224. Businesses which reported any business activity on any one of the following Internal Revenue Service tax forms will be eligible for selection: 1040 (Schedule C), ‘‘Profit or Loss from Business (Sole Proprietorship); 1065, U.S. Return of Partnership Income; 941, ‘‘Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return’’; 944, ‘‘Employer’s Annual Federal Tax Return’’; or any one of the 1120 corporate tax forms. The Survey of Business Owners was last conducted in 2007 as part of the 2007 Economic Census. The following changes have been made to the 2012 SBO: • To reduce the SBO sample size, mailing and processing costs, and respondent burden, the Census Bureau is expanding its use of direct data substitution from existing data sources. • Select businesses will be mailed the new 2012 SBO–2 short form with 39 fewer questions to answer than the 2012 SBO–1 long form. • Spanish versions of the SBO–1 and the SBO–2 forms will be available upon request. • The first eight questions from the 2007 SBO–1 form have been reorganized into three questions on the 2012 SBO– 1 and SBO–2 forms to improve navigation through the form. • The veteran question has been revised and expanded to collect information on whether the veteran was service-disabled, served on active duty or as a reservist during the survey year, served on active duty at any time, and served on active duty after September 11, 2001. The revised and expanded wording for the veteran categories and the collection of the additional service characteristics reflects input received during consultations with many leaders in the veteran community. Input was received from, among others, the Department of Defense, the Veterans Administration, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, the Small Business Administration, the American Legion, VET-Force, and AMVETS. • Interest from researchers on the possible correlation between intellectual E:\FR\FM\29MYN1.SGM 29MYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 103 / Tuesday, May 29, 2012 / Notices property rights and business success led to the addition of a question on whether the business owned a copyright, trademark, granted patent, or pending patent. We received separate clearance from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to test our proposed 2012 SBO questionnaire. We intend to conduct interviews with 83 businesses in three rounds. Cognitive interviews began in November 2011 and will continue through June 2012. Upon completion of each round of interviews, the interview team meets and decides on the recommended changes to the form. The form is revised after each round and the interview protocol is updated to reflect the new version of the form. The third round of testing is continuing as we submit this presubmission notice. II. Method of Collection The Census Bureau will primarily use a mailout/mailback survey form to collect the data. Electronic reporting will be available for the return of both the SBO–1 and SBO–2 forms. The Spanish versions of these forms will only be available in paper format upon request. The questionnaires will be mailed from our National Processing Center in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Two mail follow-ups to nonrespondents will be conducted at approximately onemonth intervals. srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES III. Data OMB Control Number: 0607–0943. Form Number: SBO–1, 2012 Survey of Business Owners and Self-Employed Persons; SBO–2, 2012 Survey of Business Owners and Self-Employed Persons (short version); SBO–1S, 2012 Survey of Business Owners and SelfEmployed Persons (Spanish version of the long form); SBO–2S, 2012 Survey of Business Owners and Self-Employed Persons (Spanish version of the short form). Type of Review: Regular submission. Affected Public: Large and small businesses. Estimated Number of Respondents: 1.75 million—half will receive the long form and half will receive the short form. Estimated Time per Response: 12 minutes for the SBO–1 and 8 minutes for the SBO–2. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 291,667. Estimated Total Annual Cost: $8,814,177. Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory. Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, Sections 131, 193, and 224. VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:12 May 25, 2012 Jkt 226001 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. 31567 accepted, but may be impossible to complete. [FR Doc. 2012–12909 Filed 5–25–12; 8:45 am] The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the latest initiatives by the Administration and the Secretary of Commerce on the issues of innovation, entrepreneurship and commercialization. The meeting will also discuss efforts by the U.S. Department of Commerce around manufacturing, exports and investment. Specific topics for discussion include manufacturing, investment, exports, innovation commercialization, entrepreneurship, federal programs for commercialization and technology transfer. The final agenda will be posted on the U.S. Department of Commerce Web site at www.commerce.gov. Any member of the public may submit pertinent questions and comments concerning the Council’s affairs at any time before or after the meeting. Comments may be submitted to the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the contact information below. Copies of the meeting minutes will be available within 90 days. BILLING CODE 3510–07–P FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dated: May 23, 2012. Glenna Mickelson, Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Economic Development Administration The National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship; Meeting of the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship U.S. Department of Commerce. Notice of an open meeting. AGENCY: ACTION: The National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship will hold a meeting on Tuesday, June 12, 2012. The open meeting will be held from 10:00 a.m.– 2:00 p.m. and will be open to the public via conference call. The meeting will take place at the U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230. The Council was chartered on November 10, 2009 to advise the Secretary of Commerce on matter related to innovation and entrepreneurship in the United States. DATES: June 12, 2012. Time: 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. (EST). ADDRESSES: U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230. Please specify if any specific requests for participation five business days in advance. Last minute requests will be SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Nish Acharya, Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Room 7019, 1401 Constitution Avenue, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: 202–482–4068; fax: 202–273–4781. Please reference ‘‘NACIE June 12, 2012’’ in the subject line of your fax. Dated: May 23, 2012. Nish Acharya, Director, Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, U.S. Department of Commerce. [FR Doc. 2012–12983 Filed 5–25–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–03–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Bureau of Industry and Security Regulations and Procedures Technical Advisory Committee; Notice of Partially Closed Meeting The Regulations and Procedures Technical Advisory Committee (RPTAC) will meet June 12, 2012, 9:00 a.m., Room 3884, in the Herbert C. Hoover Building, 14th Street between Constitution and Pennsylvania Avenues NW., Washington, DC. The Committee advises the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Export Administration on implementation of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and provides for continuing review to update the EAR as needed. E:\FR\FM\29MYN1.SGM 29MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 29, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31566-31567]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-12909]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

U.S. Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; 2012 Survey of 
Business Owners and Self-Employed Persons (SBO)

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce.

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 July 30, 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(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Katherine Russell, U.S. Census Bureau, CSD, 
6K280A, Washington, DC 20233-6400, (301) 763-7094, 
katherine.russell@census.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau plans to conduct the 2012 Survey of Business 
Owners and Self-Employed Persons (SBO). In the SBO, businesses are 
asked several questions about their business as well as several 
questions about the gender, ethnicity, race, and veteran status of the 
principal owner(s). This survey provides the only comprehensive, 
regularly collected source of information on the characteristics of 
U.S. businesses by ownership category, i.e., by gender, ethnicity, 
race, and veteran status. The survey is conducted as part of the 
economic census program. The economic census is required by law to be 
taken every 5 years under Title 13 of the United States Code, Sections 
131, 193, and 224.
    Businesses which reported any business activity on any one of the 
following Internal Revenue Service tax forms will be eligible for 
selection: 1040 (Schedule C), ``Profit or Loss from Business (Sole 
Proprietorship); 1065, U.S. Return of Partnership Income; 941, 
``Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return''; 944, ``Employer's Annual 
Federal Tax Return''; or any one of the 1120 corporate tax forms.
    The Survey of Business Owners was last conducted in 2007 as part of 
the 2007 Economic Census. The following changes have been made to the 
2012 SBO:
     To reduce the SBO sample size, mailing and processing 
costs, and respondent burden, the Census Bureau is expanding its use of 
direct data substitution from existing data sources.
     Select businesses will be mailed the new 2012 SBO-2 short 
form with 39 fewer questions to answer than the 2012 SBO-1 long form.
     Spanish versions of the SBO-1 and the SBO-2 forms will be 
available upon request.
     The first eight questions from the 2007 SBO-1 form have 
been reorganized into three questions on the 2012 SBO-1 and SBO-2 forms 
to improve navigation through the form.
     The veteran question has been revised and expanded to 
collect information on whether the veteran was service-disabled, served 
on active duty or as a reservist during the survey year, served on 
active duty at any time, and served on active duty after September 11, 
2001. The revised and expanded wording for the veteran categories and 
the collection of the additional service characteristics reflects input 
received during consultations with many leaders in the veteran 
community. Input was received from, among others, the Department of 
Defense, the Veterans Administration, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 
the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Veterans' Affairs, the 
Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, the Small Business 
Administration, the American Legion, VET-Force, and AMVETS.
     Interest from researchers on the possible correlation 
between intellectual

[[Page 31567]]

property rights and business success led to the addition of a question 
on whether the business owned a copyright, trademark, granted patent, 
or pending patent.
    We received separate clearance from the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) to test our proposed 2012 SBO questionnaire. We intend to 
conduct interviews with 83 businesses in three rounds. Cognitive 
interviews began in November 2011 and will continue through June 2012. 
Upon completion of each round of interviews, the interview team meets 
and decides on the recommended changes to the form. The form is revised 
after each round and the interview protocol is updated to reflect the 
new version of the form. The third round of testing is continuing as we 
submit this presubmission notice.

II. Method of Collection

    The Census Bureau will primarily use a mailout/mailback survey form 
to collect the data. Electronic reporting will be available for the 
return of both the SBO-1 and SBO-2 forms. The Spanish versions of these 
forms will only be available in paper format upon request. The 
questionnaires will be mailed from our National Processing Center in 
Jeffersonville, Indiana. Two mail follow-ups to nonrespondents will be 
conducted at approximately one-month intervals.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0943.
    Form Number: SBO-1, 2012 Survey of Business Owners and Self-
Employed Persons; SBO-2, 2012 Survey of Business Owners and Self-
Employed Persons (short version); SBO-1S, 2012 Survey of Business 
Owners and Self-Employed Persons (Spanish version of the long form); 
SBO-2S, 2012 Survey of Business Owners and Self-Employed Persons 
(Spanish version of the short form).
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Large and small businesses.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1.75 million--half will receive 
the long form and half will receive the short form.
    Estimated Time per Response: 12 minutes for the SBO-1 and 8 minutes 
for the SBO-2.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 291,667.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $8,814,177.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, Sections 131, 193, 
and 224.

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: May 23, 2012.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-12909 Filed 5-25-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P
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