Ombudsman Survey, 11993-11994 [2018-05468]
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11993
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 53 / Monday, March 19, 2018 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Patent and Trademark Office
Ombudsman Survey
Revision of a currently
approved collection, comment request.
ACTION:
The United States Patent and
Trademark Office (USPTO), as required
by the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995, invites comments on a proposed
extension of an existing information
collection.
SUMMARY:
Written comments must be
submitted on or before May 18, 2018.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
by any of the following methods:
• Email: InformationCollection@
uspto.gov. Include ‘‘0651–0078
comment’’ in the subject line of the
message.
• Federal Rulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov.
• Mail: Marcie Lovett, Records and
Information Governance Division
Director, Office of the Chief Technology
Officer, United States Patent and
Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450,
Alexandria, VA 22313–1450.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information
should be directed to Michael Easdale,
Office of Patent Quality Assurance,
United States Patent and Trademark
Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA
22313–1450; by telephone at 571–272–
3533; or by email to Michael.Easdale@
uspto.gov with ‘‘0651–0078 comment’’
in the subject line. Additional
information about this collection is also
available at https://www.reginfo.gov
under ‘‘Information Collection Review.’’
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
DATES:
I. Abstract
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
In 2011, the United States Patent and
Trademark Office (USPTO) designed
and developed the Patents Ombudsman
Program in response to customer
feedback that the prosecution of patent
applications does not always advance in
accordance with established procedures.
The USPTO implemented the
Ombudsman program to assist patent
applicants, attorneys, and agents in
resolving problems, issues, and
concerns arising during the prosecution
of a patent application. The objectives of
the Patents Ombudsman Program are to:
(1) Facilitate complaint-handling for pro
se applicants and applicant’s
representatives whose applications have
stalled in the examination process; (2)
track complaints to ensure each is
handled within ten business days; (3)
provide feedback and early warning
alerts to USPTO management regarding
training needs based on complaint
trends; and (4) build a publicly
accessible database of frequently asked
questions that address commonly seen
problems and provide effective
resolutions. Participation in the
Ombudsman program is voluntary and
does not preclude the applicant’s use of
other avenues for redress of issues,
including the filing of various patent
process petitions. The program averages
over 3,000 requests for assistance from
approximately 1,800 unique customers
each year. The Ombudsman program is
free and open to all participants in the
patenting process.
This collection covers information
gathered on the Ombudsman Survey.
This survey is a key component in the
USPTO’s evaluation of the Ombudsman
program, providing a mechanism to
monitor the effectiveness of the program
and identify potential opportunities for
enhancement of the Ombudsman
process. This survey allows USPTO to
gain consistent, reliable, and
representative information from
customers who use the Ombudsman
program. The survey consists of 9
questions, and is sent every Spring to
applicants/attorneys who have provided
an email address and utilized the
Ombudsman program within the past
fiscal year. The survey is accessed
through individualized links that are
uniquely tied to the survey participants
thereby eliminating the need for
passwords, user IDs, or usernames to
access the surveys. The survey period is
open for a period of five (5) weeks.
Customers not responding within the
initial three (3) weeks will be sent a
second email message and link seeking
their participation.
There are no statutes or regulations
requiring the USPTO to conduct this
usage and satisfaction measurement.
The USPTO uses the survey instrument
to implement Executive Order 12862 of
September 11, 1993, Setting Customer
Service Standards, published in the
Federal Register on September 14, 1993
(Vol. 58, No. 176).
II. Method of Collection
Web-based survey.
III. Data
OMB Number: 0651–0078.
IC Instruments and Forms: No form
numbers.
Type of Review: Revision of a
Previously Existing Information
Collection.
Affected Public: Individuals or
households; businesses or other forprofits; and not-for-profit institutions.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
1,100 responses per year. It is estimated
that 1,800 unique customers use the
Ombudsman program each year, and
based on previous surveys, we estimate
that the majority of them will respond
to future surveys. The number of
responses to this survey should
adequately represent all Patent
Examining Technology Centers.
Estimated Time per Response: The
USPTO estimates that it will take the
public approximately 5 minutes (0.08
hours) to submit the information in this
collection, including the time to access
the survey, gather any materials needed,
fill out the survey, and submit the
completed item to the USPTO.
Estimated Total Annual Respondent
Burden Hours: 91.67 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Respondent
(Hourly) Cost Burden: $33,435.42. The
USPTO expects that both professionals
and paraprofessionals will complete
these surveys, with 75% being
completed by professionals and 25% by
paraprofessionals. The current
professional hourly wage rate is $438
and the rate for paraprofessionals is
$145. The professional hourly rate used
for the calculation is the average rate for
attorneys in private firms as published
in the 2016 Report of the Economic
Survey by the American Intellectual
Property Law Association (AIPLA). The
paraprofessional hourly rate comes from
2017 National Utilization and
Compensation Survey published by the
National Association of Legal Assistants
(NALA). Using the combined hourly
rate of $364.75, the USPTO estimates
that the respondent cost burden for this
collection will be $33,435.42 per year as
shown in the table below.
Estimated time
for response
(minutes)
Item
Estimated
annual
responses
Estimated
annual
burden hours
Rate
($/hr)
Estimated
annual
cost burden
(a)
IC No.
(b)
(a) × (b) / 60 = (c)
(d)
(c) × (d) = (e)
1 ..........................................
Ombudsman Survey ...........
5 mins. (0.08 hours) ...........
1,100
91.67
Total .............................
........................................
........................................
1,100
91.67
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:43 Mar 16, 2018
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$364.75
$33,435.42
33,435.42
11994
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 53 / Monday, March 19, 2018 / Notices
Estimated Total Annual (Non-Hour)
Respondent Cost Burden: $0. There are
no capital start-up, maintenance,
postage, or recordkeeping costs
associated with this information
collection.
IV. Request for Comments
Comments submitted in response to
this notice will be summarized or
included in the request for OMB
approval of this information collection;
they also will become a matter of public
record.
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, e.g., the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology.
Marcie Lovett,
Records and Information Governance
Division Director, OCTO, United States Patent
and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2018–05468 Filed 3–16–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–16–P
Office of the Secretary
[Docket ID: DOD–2018–OS–0010]
Privacy Act of 1974; System of
Records
Office of the Secretary of
Defense, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of a new system of
records.
AGENCY:
The Office of the Secretary of
Defense proposes to add a system of
records entitled, ‘‘Military Spouse
Employment Partnership (MSEP) Career
Portal, DPR 47 DoD.’’ This system is the
sole web platform utilized to connect
military spouses with companies
seeking to hire military spouse
employees. Participating companies,
called MSEP Partners, are vetted and
approved participants in the MSEP
Program and have pledged to recruit,
hire, promote and retain military
spouses in portable careers. MSEP is a
targeted recruitment and employment
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
16:43 Mar 16, 2018
You may submit comments,
identified by docket number and title,
by any of the following methods:
• Federal Rulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting
comments.
• Mail: Department of Defense, Office
of the Chief Management Officer,
Directorate for Oversight and
Compliance, 4800 Mark Center Drive,
Mailbox #24, Suite 08D09B, Alexandria,
VA 22350–1700.
Instructions: All submissions received
must include the agency name and
docket number for this Federal Register
document. The general policy for
comments and other submissions from
members of the public is to make these
submissions available for public
viewing on the internet at https://
www.regulations.gov as they are
received without change, including any
personal identifiers or contact
information.
ADDRESSES:
Mrs.
Luz D. Ortiz, Chief, Records, Privacy
and Declassification Division (RPD2),
1155 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC
20301–1155, or by phone at (571) 372–
0478.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office
of the Secretary of Defense proposes to
establish a new system of records
subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, 5
U.S.C. 552a. The Military Spouse
Employment Partnership (MSEP) Career
Portal (DPR 47 DoD) is the sole web
platform utilized to connect military
spouses with companies seeking to hire
military spouse employees.
Participating companies, called MSEP
Partners, are vetted and approved
participants in the MSEP Program and
have pledged to recruit, hire, promote
and retain military spouses in portable
careers. MSEP is a targeted recruitment
and employment partnership that
connects American businesses with
military spouses who possess essential
21st-century workforce skills and
attributes and are seeking portable,
fulfilling careers. The MSEP program is
part of the overall Spouse Education
and Career Opportunities (SECO)
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
VerDate Sep<11>2014
partnership that connects American
businesses with military spouses who
possess essential 21st-century workforce
skills and attributes and are seeking
portable, fulfilling careers.
DATES: Comments will be accepted on or
before April 18, 2018. This proposed
action will be effective the date
following the end of the comment
period unless comments are received
which result in a contrary
determination.
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program which falls under the auspices
of the office of the Deputy Assistant
Secretary of Defense for Military
Community & Family Policy.
This program was developed in
compliance with 10 U.S. Code 1784
Employment Opportunities for Military
Spouses and DoDI 1342.22, Military
Family Readiness.
Users may learn about this program in
various ways including through the
Military OneSource program,
installation service providers, from
other military spouses, from other MSEP
Partners and via general online
searches. Once aware of the program
interested spouses may simply access by
going online to the following URL:
https://msepjobs.militaryonesource.mil/
msep/.
Military spouses register on the MSEP
Career Portal to help connect them to
MSEP Partner employers who are
hiring. After arriving at the MSEP Career
Portal, military spouses are able to
review resources, conduct a job search
or select to register. All of this
information is available on the web
portal where the registration process is
also completed. Once the military
spouse has registered they may choose
to make their education and work
experience visible to MSEP Partner
employers as they are searching for
candidates to fill available positions
with their company. Prior to providing
any information military spouses must
first view the Privacy Act Statement and
Agency Disclosure Notice. This
information displays in a pop-up when
a military spouse first clicks into a field
on the registration form to provide
information. The military spouse must
review the information and click to
close the pop-up before they can
proceed with completing the form.
The Office of the Secretary of Defense
notices for systems of records subject to
the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended,
have been published in the Federal
Register and are available from the
address in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT or at the Defense Privacy, Civil
Liberties, and Transparency Division
website at https://dpcld.defense.gov/.
The proposed systems reports, as
required by of the Privacy Act, as
amended, were submitted on October 3,
2017, to the House Committee on
Oversight and Government Reform, the
Senate Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs, and
the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) pursuant to Section 6 to OMB
Circular No. A–108, ‘‘Federal Agency
Responsibilities for Review, Reporting,
and Publication under the Privacy Act,’’
revised December 23, 2016 (December
23, 2016, 81 FR 94424).
E:\FR\FM\19MRN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 53 (Monday, March 19, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11993-11994]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-05468]
[[Page 11993]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Patent and Trademark Office
Ombudsman Survey
ACTION: Revision of a currently approved collection, comment request.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), as
required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, invites comments on a
proposed extension of an existing information collection.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before May 18, 2018.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
Email: [email protected]. Include ``0651-
0078 comment'' in the subject line of the message.
Federal Rulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
Mail: Marcie Lovett, Records and Information Governance
Division Director, Office of the Chief Technology Officer, United
States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA
22313-1450.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information
should be directed to Michael Easdale, Office of Patent Quality
Assurance, United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450,
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450; by telephone at 571-272-3533; or by email to
[email protected] with ``0651-0078 comment'' in the subject
line. Additional information about this collection is also available at
https://www.reginfo.gov under ``Information Collection Review.''
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
In 2011, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
designed and developed the Patents Ombudsman Program in response to
customer feedback that the prosecution of patent applications does not
always advance in accordance with established procedures. The USPTO
implemented the Ombudsman program to assist patent applicants,
attorneys, and agents in resolving problems, issues, and concerns
arising during the prosecution of a patent application. The objectives
of the Patents Ombudsman Program are to: (1) Facilitate complaint-
handling for pro se applicants and applicant's representatives whose
applications have stalled in the examination process; (2) track
complaints to ensure each is handled within ten business days; (3)
provide feedback and early warning alerts to USPTO management regarding
training needs based on complaint trends; and (4) build a publicly
accessible database of frequently asked questions that address commonly
seen problems and provide effective resolutions. Participation in the
Ombudsman program is voluntary and does not preclude the applicant's
use of other avenues for redress of issues, including the filing of
various patent process petitions. The program averages over 3,000
requests for assistance from approximately 1,800 unique customers each
year. The Ombudsman program is free and open to all participants in the
patenting process.
This collection covers information gathered on the Ombudsman
Survey. This survey is a key component in the USPTO's evaluation of the
Ombudsman program, providing a mechanism to monitor the effectiveness
of the program and identify potential opportunities for enhancement of
the Ombudsman process. This survey allows USPTO to gain consistent,
reliable, and representative information from customers who use the
Ombudsman program. The survey consists of 9 questions, and is sent
every Spring to applicants/attorneys who have provided an email address
and utilized the Ombudsman program within the past fiscal year. The
survey is accessed through individualized links that are uniquely tied
to the survey participants thereby eliminating the need for passwords,
user IDs, or usernames to access the surveys. The survey period is open
for a period of five (5) weeks. Customers not responding within the
initial three (3) weeks will be sent a second email message and link
seeking their participation.
There are no statutes or regulations requiring the USPTO to conduct
this usage and satisfaction measurement. The USPTO uses the survey
instrument to implement Executive Order 12862 of September 11, 1993,
Setting Customer Service Standards, published in the Federal Register
on September 14, 1993 (Vol. 58, No. 176).
II. Method of Collection
Web-based survey.
III. Data
OMB Number: 0651-0078.
IC Instruments and Forms: No form numbers.
Type of Review: Revision of a Previously Existing Information
Collection.
Affected Public: Individuals or households; businesses or other
for-profits; and not-for-profit institutions.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,100 responses per year. It is
estimated that 1,800 unique customers use the Ombudsman program each
year, and based on previous surveys, we estimate that the majority of
them will respond to future surveys. The number of responses to this
survey should adequately represent all Patent Examining Technology
Centers.
Estimated Time per Response: The USPTO estimates that it will take
the public approximately 5 minutes (0.08 hours) to submit the
information in this collection, including the time to access the
survey, gather any materials needed, fill out the survey, and submit
the completed item to the USPTO.
Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 91.67 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Respondent (Hourly) Cost Burden: $33,435.42.
The USPTO expects that both professionals and paraprofessionals will
complete these surveys, with 75% being completed by professionals and
25% by paraprofessionals. The current professional hourly wage rate is
$438 and the rate for paraprofessionals is $145. The professional
hourly rate used for the calculation is the average rate for attorneys
in private firms as published in the 2016 Report of the Economic Survey
by the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA). The
paraprofessional hourly rate comes from 2017 National Utilization and
Compensation Survey published by the National Association of Legal
Assistants (NALA). Using the combined hourly rate of $364.75, the USPTO
estimates that the respondent cost burden for this collection will be
$33,435.42 per year as shown in the table below.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated
IC No. Item Estimated time for annual Estimated annual Rate ($/hr) Estimated annual
response (minutes) responses burden hours cost burden
...................... (a).................. (b) (a) x (b) / 60 = (d) (c) x (d) = (e)
(c)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.................................. Ombudsman Survey...... 5 mins. (0.08 hours). 1,100 91.67 $364.75 $33,435.42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total.......................... ...................... ..................... 1,100 91.67 .............. 33,435.42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 11994]]
Estimated Total Annual (Non-Hour) Respondent Cost Burden: $0. There
are no capital start-up, maintenance, postage, or recordkeeping costs
associated with this information collection.
IV. Request for Comments
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized or
included in the request for OMB approval of this information
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.
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, e.g., the use of automated collection techniques or other
forms of information technology.
Marcie Lovett,
Records and Information Governance Division Director, OCTO, United
States Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2018-05468 Filed 3-16-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-16-P
