Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, 44580-44581 [2012-18452]

Download as PDF 44580 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 146 / Monday, July 30, 2012 / Notices Members of the public are entitled to submit written comments. The comments must be received in the Southern Regional Office of the Commission by September 15, 2012. The address is Southern Regional Office, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, 61 Forsyth Street Suite 16T126, Atlanta, GA 30303. Persons wishing to email their comments or who desire additional information should contact Peter Minarik, Regional Director, Southern Regional Office, at (404) 562– 7000, (or for hearing impaired TDD 800– 877–8339), or by email erodriguez@usccr.gov. Hearing-impaired persons who will attend the meeting and require the services of a sign language interpreter should contact the Regional Office at least ten (10) working days before the scheduled date of the meeting. Records generated from this meeting may be inspected and reproduced at the Southern Regional Office, as they become available, both before and after the meeting. Persons interested in the work of this advisory committee are advised to go to the Commission’s Web site, www.usccr.gov, or to contact the Southern Regional Office at the above email or street address. The meeting will be conducted pursuant to the provisions of the rules and regulations of the Commission and FACA. Dated in Washington, DC, July 24, 2012. Peter Minarik, Acting Chief,Regional Programs Coordination Unit. [FR Doc. 2012–18392 Filed 7–27–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6335–01–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 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: October School Enrollment Supplement to the Current Population Survey. OMB Control Number: 0607–0464. Form Number(s): None. Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection. Burden Hours: 2,950. Number of Respondents: 59,000. Average Hours per Response: 3 minutes. Needs and Uses: The purpose of this request for review is to obtain continued VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:34 Jul 27, 2012 Jkt 226001 clearance for the supplemental inquiry concerning school enrollment to be conducted in conjunction with the October Current Population Survey (CPS). The School Enrollment Supplement is jointly sponsored by the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). A number of questions in this supplement may appear in the American Community Survey (ACS) and in other demographic surveys. However, this supplement’s comprehensive set of questions does not duplicate any other single information collection, and ensures the historical continuity of a data series that spans over 5 decades. This data series provides basic information on enrollment status of various segments of the population necessary as background for policy formulation and implementation. The CPS October supplement is the only annual source of data on public/private elementary and secondary school enrollment and characteristics of private school students and their families, which are used for tracking historical trends and for policy planning and support. The basic school enrollment questions have been collected annually in the CPS for 50 years. Consequently, this supplement is the only source of historical data—at the national level— on the age distribution and family characteristics of college students, and on the demographic characteristics of preprimary school enrollment. As part of the federal government’s efforts to collect data and provide timely information to local governments for policymaking decisions, this supplement provides national trends in enrollment and progress in school. Discontinuance of these data would mean not complying with the federal government’s obligation to provide data to decision makers on current educational issues and would disrupt a data series that has been in existence for 50 years. Affected Public: Individuals or households. Frequency: Annually. Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary. Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., Section 182, and Title 29 U.S.C., Sections 1–9. OMB Desk Officer: Brian HarrisKojetin, (202) 395–7314. Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained by calling or writing Jennifer Jessup, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, (202) 482–0336, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DC 20230 (or via the Internet at jjessup@doc.gov). 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 email (bharrisk@omb.eop.gov). Dated: July 25, 2012. Gwellnar Banks, Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. 2012–18451 Filed 7–27–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–07–P 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: Generic Clearance for 2020 Census Field Tests to Research the Use of Automation in Field Data Collection Activities. OMB Control Number: None. Form Number(s): Unknown at this time. Type of Request: New collection. Burden Hours: 2,167. Number of Respondents: 13,000. Average Hours per Response: 10 minutes. Needs and Uses: The U.S. Census Bureau is committed to conducting a 2020 Census that costs less while maintaining high quality results. Field data collection activities are a significant cost driver in the decennial census. Field data collection activities include creating and updating address lists, updating maps, enumerating households and persons, collecting data on vacant housing units, and conducting quality control operations. In previous censuses, these activities required the use of a large temporary field staff with limited training using manual or paper forms and systems. Advances in technology may create new opportunities to perform field data collection tasks in an automated environment. The Census Bureau plans to research and learn the use of new technologies to test their capabilities in performing data collection activities. As part of the learning process, the Census Bureau plans to conduct operations using new technologies. This research E:\FR\FM\30JYN1.SGM 30JYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 146 / Monday, July 30, 2012 / Notices mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES and learning are integral to the Strategic Plan for the 2020 Census. Designing and testing innovations are part of the planning of every recent decennial census. To carry out these tests, the Census Bureau plans to conduct field activities by programming and using mobile computing devices, such as smart phones and tablets, and using multiple software operating systems. The tests will inform census planners and stakeholders on their ability to program applications on different devices. In addition, the tests will measure the accuracy, productivity, and user experience with different combinations of mobile device and applications. Tests may also provide data on the feasibility to program applications on privately owned devices. In previous censuses, the Census Bureau has purchased equipment that it issues to the temporary field staff. After the census, this equipment was disposed as excess property. The Census Bureau plans to conduct these tests in small geographic areas involving a small number of housing units and persons over the next three years. The specific areas have not yet been determined. We will follow the protocol of past generic clearances: 14 to 30 days before the scheduled start date of each field test, we will provide OMB with a detailed background on the activity, estimates of respondent burden, and samples of pertinent forms and/or questions. We will provide OMB annually a report documenting the activities performed under this clearance at the end of each year. The following sections describe the categories of activities to be included under the clearance. The Census Bureau has conducted these activities (or similar ones) previously and the individual respondent burden remains relatively unchanged from one time to another. Address Listing and Mapping Tasks The Census Bureau maintains a Master Address File (MAF) of housing units and other living quarters. Census links each MAF location to the Census Bureau mapping system called the Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing (TIGER) database. The MAF needs updating to account for new housing units and other living quarters. The TIGER database needs updating to account for feature changes such as new streets and street names. The Census Bureau will update map features and address lists on mobile computing devices. During the test, it may be necessary to ask residents or VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:34 Jul 27, 2012 Jkt 226001 other knowledgeable persons in a test area for street name and address numbers. The Census Bureau will record responses into extracts of the mapping and MAF databases that have been loaded onto the mobile computing device. The primary purpose of this activity during the test is to evaluate the performance of these tasks on a mobile computing device in a field environment. The data collected may be stored on the mobile computing device and/or other data storage system. Address data are protected information under U.S. Code Title 13, and the test will comply with the Census Bureau privacy and security requirements for collecting, transmitting, storing, and using information obtained during the test. Enumeration Functions During personal interviews, the decennial census asks a series of questions of a household respondent and records the answers. The enumeration functions research will focus on using various applications and mobile computing devices to enumerate households and persons. The research and evaluation may include: Developing an automated enumeration questionnaire; usability issues; conducting interviews; scheduling return visits; recording contact outcomes; recording the status of a housing unit (such as occupied or vacant); adding addresses; making work assignments; measuring production; having the ability to toggle to a Spanish instrument; enumerator routing; and transmitting data. To test enumeration functions, the Census Bureau may conduct the enumeration directly with a household member or knowledgeable respondent. The Census Bureau will provide the actual questions asked to Office of Management and Budget following established protocol. During these tests, the Census Bureau could develop other applications on the mobile computing devices to collect information. These applications could include: allowing respondents to enter their information directly into the device; perform voice recognition commands and recordings; and to input data during a phone call. Quality Control Functions The quality control (QC) functions research is intended to test quality control functions and applications on different mobile computing devices for both listing and enumeration. The purposes of testing these functions are to develop requirements for the QC portion of the listing and enumeration applications in 2020. The scope of the PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 44581 tests may include revisiting areas and households to verify information collected in previous operations; correcting and adding map features, addresses, and households; and applying pass/fail requirements. The tests may include collecting GPS coordinates of addresses to identify and reduce incorrect geographic identifiers of addresses. All activities described directly support the Census Bureau’s efforts to maintain or improve quality while controlling costs in the 2020 Census. The information collected from households during these tests is to research new technologies to plan the 2020 Census. Information from respondents will not be used in any data products produced by the Census Bureau such as statistical measures or indicators. Responses may be used in future research studies that build upon the results of these early tests. The Census Bureau may use address and mapping information collected during these tests to update its MAF and mapping databases. Affected Public: Individuals or households. Frequency: One time. Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory. Legal Authority: U.S. Code Title 13, Sections 141 and 193. OMB Desk Officer: Brian HarrisKojetin, (202) 395–7314. Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained by calling or writing Jennifer Jessup, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, (202) 482–0336, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at jjessup@doc.gov). 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 email (bharrisk@omb.eop.gov). Dated: July 25, 2012. Gwellnar Banks, Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. 2012–18452 Filed 7–27–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–07–P E:\FR\FM\30JYN1.SGM 30JYN1

Agencies

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 146 (Monday, July 30, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44580-44581]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-18452]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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: Generic Clearance for 2020 Census Field Tests to Research 
the Use of Automation in Field Data Collection Activities.
    OMB Control Number: None.
    Form Number(s): Unknown at this time.
    Type of Request: New collection.
    Burden Hours: 2,167.
    Number of Respondents: 13,000.
    Average Hours per Response: 10 minutes.
    Needs and Uses: The U.S. Census Bureau is committed to conducting a 
2020 Census that costs less while maintaining high quality results. 
Field data collection activities are a significant cost driver in the 
decennial census. Field data collection activities include creating and 
updating address lists, updating maps, enumerating households and 
persons, collecting data on vacant housing units, and conducting 
quality control operations. In previous censuses, these activities 
required the use of a large temporary field staff with limited training 
using manual or paper forms and systems.
    Advances in technology may create new opportunities to perform 
field data collection tasks in an automated environment. The Census 
Bureau plans to research and learn the use of new technologies to test 
their capabilities in performing data collection activities. As part of 
the learning process, the Census Bureau plans to conduct operations 
using new technologies. This research

[[Page 44581]]

and learning are integral to the Strategic Plan for the 2020 Census.
    Designing and testing innovations are part of the planning of every 
recent decennial census. To carry out these tests, the Census Bureau 
plans to conduct field activities by programming and using mobile 
computing devices, such as smart phones and tablets, and using multiple 
software operating systems. The tests will inform census planners and 
stakeholders on their ability to program applications on different 
devices. In addition, the tests will measure the accuracy, 
productivity, and user experience with different combinations of mobile 
device and applications. Tests may also provide data on the feasibility 
to program applications on privately owned devices. In previous 
censuses, the Census Bureau has purchased equipment that it issues to 
the temporary field staff. After the census, this equipment was 
disposed as excess property.
    The Census Bureau plans to conduct these tests in small geographic 
areas involving a small number of housing units and persons over the 
next three years. The specific areas have not yet been determined. We 
will follow the protocol of past generic clearances: 14 to 30 days 
before the scheduled start date of each field test, we will provide OMB 
with a detailed background on the activity, estimates of respondent 
burden, and samples of pertinent forms and/or questions. We will 
provide OMB annually a report documenting the activities performed 
under this clearance at the end of each year.
    The following sections describe the categories of activities to be 
included under the clearance. The Census Bureau has conducted these 
activities (or similar ones) previously and the individual respondent 
burden remains relatively unchanged from one time to another.

Address Listing and Mapping Tasks

    The Census Bureau maintains a Master Address File (MAF) of housing 
units and other living quarters. Census links each MAF location to the 
Census Bureau mapping system called the Topologically Integrated 
Geographic Encoding and Referencing (TIGER) database. The MAF needs 
updating to account for new housing units and other living quarters. 
The TIGER database needs updating to account for feature changes such 
as new streets and street names.
    The Census Bureau will update map features and address lists on 
mobile computing devices. During the test, it may be necessary to ask 
residents or other knowledgeable persons in a test area for street name 
and address numbers. The Census Bureau will record responses into 
extracts of the mapping and MAF databases that have been loaded onto 
the mobile computing device. The primary purpose of this activity 
during the test is to evaluate the performance of these tasks on a 
mobile computing device in a field environment. The data collected may 
be stored on the mobile computing device and/or other data storage 
system. Address data are protected information under U.S. Code Title 
13, and the test will comply with the Census Bureau privacy and 
security requirements for collecting, transmitting, storing, and using 
information obtained during the test.

Enumeration Functions

    During personal interviews, the decennial census asks a series of 
questions of a household respondent and records the answers. The 
enumeration functions research will focus on using various applications 
and mobile computing devices to enumerate households and persons. The 
research and evaluation may include: Developing an automated 
enumeration questionnaire; usability issues; conducting interviews; 
scheduling return visits; recording contact outcomes; recording the 
status of a housing unit (such as occupied or vacant); adding 
addresses; making work assignments; measuring production; having the 
ability to toggle to a Spanish instrument; enumerator routing; and 
transmitting data. To test enumeration functions, the Census Bureau may 
conduct the enumeration directly with a household member or 
knowledgeable respondent. The Census Bureau will provide the actual 
questions asked to Office of Management and Budget following 
established protocol.
    During these tests, the Census Bureau could develop other 
applications on the mobile computing devices to collect information. 
These applications could include: allowing respondents to enter their 
information directly into the device; perform voice recognition 
commands and recordings; and to input data during a phone call.

Quality Control Functions

    The quality control (QC) functions research is intended to test 
quality control functions and applications on different mobile 
computing devices for both listing and enumeration. The purposes of 
testing these functions are to develop requirements for the QC portion 
of the listing and enumeration applications in 2020. The scope of the 
tests may include revisiting areas and households to verify information 
collected in previous operations; correcting and adding map features, 
addresses, and households; and applying pass/fail requirements. The 
tests may include collecting GPS coordinates of addresses to identify 
and reduce incorrect geographic identifiers of addresses.
    All activities described directly support the Census Bureau's 
efforts to maintain or improve quality while controlling costs in the 
2020 Census. The information collected from households during these 
tests is to research new technologies to plan the 2020 Census. 
Information from respondents will not be used in any data products 
produced by the Census Bureau such as statistical measures or 
indicators. Responses may be used in future research studies that build 
upon the results of these early tests. The Census Bureau may use 
address and mapping information collected during these tests to update 
its MAF and mapping databases.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Frequency: One time.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: U.S. Code Title 13, Sections 141 and 193.
    OMB Desk Officer: Brian Harris-Kojetin, (202) 395-7314.
    Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained 
by calling or writing Jennifer Jessup, Departmental Paperwork Clearance 
Officer, (202) 482-0336, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at 
jjessup@doc.gov).
    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 email (bharrisk@omb.eop.gov).

    Dated: July 25, 2012.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-18452 Filed 7-27-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P

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