83 FR 13226 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 60 (March 28, 2018)
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 60 (March 28, 2018)
| Page Range | 13226-13228 | |
| FR Document | 2018-06166 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 28, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 13226-13228] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-06166] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: American Community Survey. OMB Control Number: 0607-0810. Form Number(s): ACS-1, ACS-1(SP), ACS-1(PR), ACS-1(PR)SP, ACS- 1(GQ), ACS-1(PR)(GQ), GQFQ, ACS CAPI (HU), ACS RI (HU), and AGQ QI, AGQ RI. Type of Request: Regular Submission. Number of Respondents: 3,760,000. Average Hours Per Response: 40 minutes for the average household questionnaire. Burden Hours: The estimate is an annual average of 2,455,868 burden hours. Needs and Uses: The U.S. Census Bureau requests authorization from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for revisions to the American Community Survey (ACS). The American Community Survey (ACS) is one of the Department of Commerce's most valuable data products, used extensively by businesses, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), local governments, and many federal agencies. In conducting this survey, the Census Bureau's top priority is respecting the time and privacy of the people providing information while preserving its value to the public. The Census Bureau has a robust research program for the ACS focused on enhancing quality of the respondent experience, survey operations, and data. In 2017, the Census Bureau conducted the 2017 Pressure Seal Mailing Materials Test to evaluate the impact on self-response and cost of replacing letters and postcards in the American [[Page 13227]] Community Survey (ACS) mail materials with pressure seal mailers. A pressure seal mailer is a one-page document with a pre-applied adhesive that is folded and sealed with pressure. This type of mailer costs less than a letter with an envelope and more than a postcard. However, pressure seal mailers can conceal personal information while postcards cannot. Replacing a postcard with a pressure seal mailer provides an opportunity to increase the use of the internet user ID in the text of the ACS mailings. Based on the results of this test, a pressure seal mailer will be used in place of the Reminder Letter (second mailing) and the Additional Reminder Postcard (fifth mailing). This information is new since the publication of the 60-day Federal Register Notice, FR- Doc. 2017-26726. The content of the proposed 2019 ACS questionnaire and data collection instruments for both Housing Unit and Group Quarters operations reflect changes to content and instructions that were proposed primarily as a result of the 2016 ACS Content Test, but also as a result of interagency consultation. The 2019 content changes cover several topics discussed below. Telephone Service The rise of cell phone and smartphone usage, and other complex and varied telephone services and equipment, has changed how people view and use telephones in a household. Research also suggests that some respondents, or in some cases interviewers, may not fully understand the current wording of the survey question on Telephone Service, the additional instructions that accompany the question, or what the question is intending to capture. To make the intent of the telephone service question easier to understand by respondents and interviewers, the question was made a stand-alone question and additional instructions are provided on the types of telephones and equipment respondents should include when answering the question. Currently, telephone service is asked as part of a broader question on housing characteristics. Health Insurance A question on Health Insurance Premiums and Subsidies will be introduced to the ACS immediately following the current question on health insurance coverage. The question on premiums and subsidies asks if a person pays a health insurance premium, and if so, if he or she received a subsidy to help pay the premium. This question will provide more accurate information about coverage categories than available from the existing ACS question on current coverage alone. These data will enhance the ability of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the states to administer Medicaid, CHIP, and the exchanges, and monitor private insurance coverage. In addition, one response option for the health insurance question will be changed as a result of consultation with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In July 2017, the VA contacted the Census Bureau and requested a change to the VA response option on the health insurance question. The proposed change is to ensure the accuracy of the estimates of VA health insurance coverage. The VA response option for the health insurance question will be truncated from ``VA (including those who have ever used or enrolled for VA health care)'' to ``VA (including those who have enrolled for VA health care).'' This information is new since the publication of the 60-day Federal Register Notice, FR Doc. 2017-26726. Journey to Work Changes to the Commute Mode question were motivated by changes in public transportation infrastructure across the United States, particularly the increased prevalence of light rail systems and the need to update and clarify the terminology used to refer to commute modes that appear as categories on the ACS. To improve the Commute Mode question, some of the public transportation modes were modified. The category ``Streetcar or trolley car'' was changed to ``Light rail, street car, or trolley,'' ``Subway or elevated'' was changed to ``Subway or Elevated Rail,'' and ``Railroad'' was changed to ``Long- distance train or commuter rail.'' These three rail-related categories were also slightly reordered so that ``Subway or elevated rail,'' the most prevalent rail mode, is listed first. The phrase ``trolley bus'' was dropped and the phrase ``work at home'' was changed to ``work from home.'' The subheading of instructions was simplified to read ``Mark ONE box for the method of transportation used for most of the distance.'' The Time of Departure question has historically raised concerns about privacy because of the reference to the time a person leaves home. To phrase the question in a less intrusive way, the question was changed to ask what time the person's trip to work began and to remove the word ``home.'' Weeks Worked The changes to the question on the number of weeks worked were made to allow the Census Bureau to provide high-quality, continuous measures for the number of weeks worked, such as means, medians, and aggregates. In addition, the changes enable additional specificity for weeks worked, particularly with hours worked, income, and occupation. Part A of the question regarding the time period of interest was rephrased from working ``50 or more weeks'' to ``EVERY week'' and additional information is provided in the second sentence. The original instruction of ``Count paid time off as work'' was changed to ``Count paid vacation, paid sick leave, and military service as work.'' For part B of the question, the response option was changed to a write-in response, the reference period (``the PAST 12 MONTHS'') is repeated, and new guidance clarifies what to count as work. Class of Worker Changes to the Class of Worker question improve overall question clarity, refine the definition of unpaid family workers, explicitly define a category for Active Duty military, improve question wording and categories, and improve the layout of the question. Response categories were grouped under three general headings. ``Active Duty'' was added as one of the response categories in the government section, and the ``Active Duty'' checkbox was dropped from the Employer Name question. Question and response category wording were revised for clarity. To signal that all six employment characteristics questions refer to the same job (including industry and occupation), the series was renumbered from separate questions to a single series with sub- questions. Lastly, the instructional text and heading for the series immediately preceding Class of Worker was simplified. Industry and Occupation Ongoing research of the Industry and Occupation question write-in responses has demonstrated that the questions were unclear and confusing to respondents, who were unable to answer at all or answer with sufficient clarity to provide useful data. To increase clarity and improve occupational specificity, these questions were revised to include new and consistent examples, in terms of content and length, and include modified question wording. The number of characters for write-in responses about ``Job Duties'' was expanded from 60 to 100 characters. [[Page 13228]] Retirement Income Over the last 40 years, defined contribution retirement plans have become increasingly common while defined benefit plans (such as pensions) have become less so. Federal surveys have lagged in addressing these newer forms of retirement income and subsequently underreport retirement income. The Retirement, Survivor, and Disability Income question was changed to improve income reporting, increase item response rates, reduce reporting errors, and update questions on retirement income and the income generated from retirement accounts and all other assets in order to better measure retirement income data. The question was expanded to ask about ``retirement income, pensions, survivor or disability income.'' In addition, the instructions that accompany the question were expanded to note that income from ``a previous employer or union, or any regular withdrawals or distributions from IRA, Roth IRA, 401(k), 403(b) or other accounts specifically designed for retirement'' should be included. Relationship For several years, the Census Bureau has been testing revised relationship questions to improve the estimates of coupled households. The 1990 Census first introduced ``Unmarried partner'' as a response category to the Relationship to Householder question. The 2000 and 2010 Censuses built upon this work, changing the processing of responses to the Relationship question to more accurately represent same-sex couples. The Census Bureau discovered a statistical error in the 2010 Census data that resulted from opposite-sex couples mismarking their sex. This error had the potential to inflate the estimates of same-sex, married couple households. The Census Bureau released a set of modified state-level, same-sex household estimates from the 2010 Census because of this error, and also began new research efforts to improve the Relationship question. The Relationship question has been revised to improve measurement of same-sex couples. The existing ``Husband or wife'' and ``Unmarried partner'' response categories were each split into two versions: ``Opposite-sex husband/wife/spouse,'' ``Opposite-sex unmarried partner,'' ``Same-sex husband/wife/spouse,'' and ``Same-sex unmarried partner.'' Additionally, the two unmarried partner categories were moved from near the end of the list of response options to near the beginning, immediately after the husband/wife/spouse options. An automated relationship/sex consistency check will be included in electronic instruments to provide respondents an opportunity to change their sex or relationship responses when there is an inconsistency in the reported sex of an individual and whether their relationship was reported as ``Opposite-sex'' or ``Same-sex'' husband/wife/spouse or unmarried partner. This check reduces the inconsistency in responses and improves the quality of the relationship data. The category ``Roomer or boarder'' has been dropped from the Relationship question. Race and Hispanic Origin The 2016 ACS Content Test served as an operational test of the race and ethnicity questions that were previously tested on the 2015 National Content Test (NCT). Recommendations about the race and ethnicity questions adopted for the 2020 Census and production ACS were based on the results of the census tests and decisions made in consultation with OMB; the 2016 ACS Content Test provided an opportunity to test data collection modes and examine other data not available in the 2015 NCT. The 2016 ACS Content Test evaluated interviewer-administered collection modes, assessed the race and ethnicity questions against demographic and socioeconomic data, and separately compared the race and ethnicity results to data from the ancestry question. In 2020 or later, the ACS will adopt the final version of the race and Hispanic origin questions that are implemented for the 2020 Census. Affected Public: Individuals or households. Frequency: Response to the ACS is on a one-time basis. Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory. Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, Sections 141, 193, and 221. This information collection request may be viewed at www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to view Department of Commerce collections currently under review by OMB. Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to [email protected] or fax to (202)395-5806. Sheleen Dumas, Departmental Lead PRA Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. 2018-06166 Filed 3-27-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-07-P
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guarantees. An application guide may available will be published on the Office of the Assistant Secretary for
also be requested from the RUS contact Agency web page once all budgetary Civil Rights, 1400 Independence
listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION allocations have been completed. Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250–
CONTACT section of this notice. Loan offers are limited to the funds 9410, (2) Fax: (202) 690–7442; or (3)
Application requirements: All available at the time of the Agency’s Email: program.intake@usda.gov.
requirements for submission of an decision to approve an application. USDA is an equal opportunity
application under the Broadband Applications will not be accepted provider, employer, and lender.
Program are subject to 7 CFR part 1738. after September 30, 2018, until a new
Dated: March 22, 2018.
Application Materials/Submission: application opportunity has been
opened with the publication of an Christopher A. McLean,
Applications must be submitted through
the Agency’s online application system additional NOSA in the Federal Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
located at https://www.rd.usda.gov/ Register. [FR Doc. 2018–06175 Filed 3–27–18; 8:45 am]
programs-services/rd-apply. All Paperwork Reduction Act
BILLING CODE P
materials required for completing an
application are included in the online In accordance with the Paperwork
system. Reduction Act of 1995, the information DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
collection requirements associated with
Minimum and Maximum Loan Broadband loans, as covered in this Submission for OMB Review;
Amounts NOSA, have been approved by the Comment Request
Loans under this authority will not be Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) under OMB Control Number The Department of Commerce will
made for less than $100,000. The
0572–0130. submit to the Office of Management and
maximum loan amount that will be
Budget (OMB) for clearance the
considered for FY 2018 is $25,000,000. USDA Non-Discrimination Statement following proposal for collection of
Required Definitions for Broadband In accordance with Federal civil information under the provisions of the
Program Regulation rights law and U.S. Department of Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.
The regulation for the Broadband Agriculture (USDA) civil rights chapter 35).
Program requires that certain definitions regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agency: U.S. Census Bureau.
affecting eligibility be revised and Agencies, offices, and employees, and Title: American Community Survey.
published from time to time by the institutions participating in or OMB Control Number: 0607–0810.
Agency in the Federal Register. For the administering USDA programs are Form Number(s): ACS–1, ACS–1(SP),
purposes of this NOSA, the Agency is prohibited from discriminating based on ACS–1(PR), ACS–1(PR)SP, ACS–1(GQ),
revising the definitions of Broadband race, color, national origin, religion, sex, ACS–1(PR)(GQ), GQFQ, ACS CAPI
Service and Broadband Lending Speed. gender identity (including gender (HU), ACS RI (HU), and AGQ QI, AGQ
Broadband Service is determined to expression), sexual orientation, RI.
exist if customers are able to access a disability, age, marital status, family/ Type of Request: Regular Submission.
minimum rate-of-data transmission of parental status, income derived from a Number of Respondents: 3,760,000.
twenty-five (25) megabits downstream public assistance program, political Average Hours Per Response: 40
and three (3) megabits upstream for both beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior minutes for the average household
mobile and fixed service. This rate is civil rights activity, in any program or questionnaire.
used to determine whether an area is activity conducted or funded by USDA Burden Hours: The estimate is an
eligible for funding. (not all bases apply to all programs). annual average of 2,455,868 burden
Broadband Lending Speed is the Remedies and complaint filing hours.
minimum rate-of-data transmission that deadlines vary by program or incident. Needs and Uses: The U.S. Census
applicants must propose to offer the Persons with disabilities who require Bureau requests authorization from the
customer. The Broadband Lending alternative means of communication for Office of Management and Budget
Speed is twenty-five (25) megabits program information (e.g., Braille, large (OMB) for revisions to the American
downstream and three (3) megabits print, audiotape, American Sign Community Survey (ACS).
upstream for both mobile and fixed Language, etc.) should contact the The American Community Survey
service. responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET (ACS) is one of the Department of
Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice and Commerce’s most valuable data
Priority for Approving Loan TTY) or contact USDA through the products, used extensively by
Applications Federal Relay Service at (800) 877–8339. businesses, non-governmental
Applications for FY 2018 will be Additionally, program information may organizations (NGOs), local
accepted from the publication date of be made available in languages other governments, and many federal
this NOSA through September 30, 2018. than English. agencies. In conducting this survey, the
Although review of applications will To file a program discrimination Census Bureau’s top priority is
begin as they are submitted, all complaint, complete the USDA Program respecting the time and privacy of the
applications will be evaluated and Discrimination Complaint Form, AD– people providing information while
ranked every 90 days based on the 3027, found online at http:// preserving its value to the public.
percentage of unserved households in www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_ The Census Bureau has a robust
the proposed funded service area. cust.html and at any USDA office or research program for the ACS focused
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
Subject to available funding, eligible write a letter addressed to USDA and on enhancing quality of the respondent
applications that propose to serve a provide in the letter all of the experience, survey operations, and data.
higher percentage of unserved information requested in the form. To In 2017, the Census Bureau conducted
households will receive funding offers request a copy of the complaint form, the 2017 Pressure Seal Mailing
before other eligible applications that call (866) 632–9992. Submit your Materials Test to evaluate the impact on
propose to serve a lower percentage of completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) self-response and cost of replacing
unserved households. The amount Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, letters and postcards in the American
VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:30 Mar 27, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\28MRN1.SGM 28MRN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/83_FR_13286/page/1.svg)
![13228 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 60 / Wednesday, March 28, 2018 / Notices
Retirement Income spouse options. An automated DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Over the last 40 years, defined relationship/sex consistency check will
be included in electronic instruments to International Trade Administration
contribution retirement plans have
become increasingly common while provide respondents an opportunity to [A–580–891]
defined benefit plans (such as pensions) change their sex or relationship
have become less so. Federal surveys responses when there is an Carbon and Alloy Steel Wire Rod From
have lagged in addressing these newer inconsistency in the reported sex of an the Republic of Korea: Final
forms of retirement income and individual and whether their Affirmative Determination of Sales at
subsequently underreport retirement relationship was reported as ‘‘Opposite- Less Than Fair Value and Final
income. The Retirement, Survivor, and sex’’ or ‘‘Same-sex’’ husband/wife/ Negative Determination of Critical
Disability Income question was changed spouse or unmarried partner. This check Circumstances
to improve income reporting, increase reduces the inconsistency in responses
and improves the quality of the AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance,
item response rates, reduce reporting International Trade Administration,
errors, and update questions on relationship data. The category ‘‘Roomer
or boarder’’ has been dropped from the Department of Commerce.
retirement income and the income SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce
generated from retirement accounts and Relationship question.
(Commerce) determines that imports of
all other assets in order to better Race and Hispanic Origin carbon and alloy steel wire rod (wire
measure retirement income data. The rod) from the Republic of Korea (Korea)
question was expanded to ask about The 2016 ACS Content Test served as are being, or are likely to be, sold in the
‘‘retirement income, pensions, survivor an operational test of the race and United States at less than fair value
or disability income.’’ In addition, the ethnicity questions that were previously (LTFV). In addition, we determine that
instructions that accompany the tested on the 2015 National Content critical circumstances do not exist with
question were expanded to note that Test (NCT). Recommendations about the respect to imports of the subject
income from ‘‘a previous employer or race and ethnicity questions adopted for merchandise. The period of
union, or any regular withdrawals or the 2020 Census and production ACS investigation (POI) is January 1, 2016,
distributions from IRA, Roth IRA, were based on the results of the census through December 31, 2016.
401(k), 403(b) or other accounts tests and decisions made in consultation
DATES: Applicable March 28, 2018.
specifically designed for retirement’’ with OMB; the 2016 ACS Content Test
should be included. provided an opportunity to test data FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
collection modes and examine other Lingjun Wang, AD/CVD Operations,
Relationship Office VII, Enforcement and
data not available in the 2015 NCT. The
For several years, the Census Bureau 2016 ACS Content Test evaluated Compliance, International Trade
has been testing revised relationship interviewer-administered collection Administration, U.S. Department of
questions to improve the estimates of modes, assessed the race and ethnicity Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue
coupled households. The 1990 Census questions against demographic and NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone:
first introduced ‘‘Unmarried partner’’ as socioeconomic data, and separately (202) 482–2316.
a response category to the Relationship compared the race and ethnicity results SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
to Householder question. The 2000 and to data from the ancestry question. In
2010 Censuses built upon this work, Background
2020 or later, the ACS will adopt the
changing the processing of responses to final version of the race and Hispanic Commerce published the Preliminary
the Relationship question to more origin questions that are implemented Determination of sales of wire rod from
accurately represent same-sex couples. for the 2020 Census. Korea at LTFV in the Federal Register
The Census Bureau discovered a Affected Public: Individuals or on October 31, 2017.1 On November 7,
statistical error in the 2010 Census data households. 2017, Commerce postponed the final
that resulted from opposite-sex couples determination of this investigation.2 On
mismarking their sex. This error had the Frequency: Response to the ACS is on November 28, 2017, Commerce
potential to inflate the estimates of a one-time basis. amended the Preliminary
same-sex, married couple households. Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory. Determination.3 Commerce exercised its
The Census Bureau released a set of Legal Authority: Title 13, United discretion to toll deadlines affected by
modified state-level, same-sex States Code, Sections 141, 193, and 221. the closure of the Federal Government
household estimates from the 2010 from January 20 through 22, 2018. If the
Census because of this error, and also This information collection request new deadline falls on a non-business
began new research efforts to improve may be viewed at www.reginfo.gov. day, in accordance with Commerce’s
the Relationship question. Follow the instructions to view
The Relationship question has been Department of Commerce collections 1 See Carbon and Alloy Steel Wire Rod from the
revised to improve measurement of currently under review by OMB. Republic of Korea: Preliminary Affirmative
Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value,
same-sex couples. The existing Written comments and and Preliminary Negative Determination of Critical
‘‘Husband or wife’’ and ‘‘Unmarried recommendations for the proposed Circumstances, 82 FR 50386 (October 31, 2017)
partner’’ response categories were each information collection should be sent (Preliminary Determination), and accompanying
split into two versions: ‘‘Opposite-sex within 30 days of publication of this Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
2 See Carbon and Alloy Steel Wire Rod from Italy,
husband/wife/spouse,’’ ‘‘Opposite-sex notice to OIRA_Submission@
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
the Republic of Korea, Spain, Turkey, and the
unmarried partner,’’ ‘‘Same-sex omb.eop.gov or fax to (202)395–5806. United Kingdom: Postponement of Final
husband/wife/spouse,’’ and ‘‘Same-sex Determinations of Less-Than-Fair-Value
unmarried partner.’’ Additionally, the Sheleen Dumas, Investigation and Extension of Provisional
two unmarried partner categories were Departmental Lead PRA Officer, Office of the Measures, 82 FR 51613 (November 7, 2017).
3 See Carbon and Alloy Steel Wire Rod from the
moved from near the end of the list of Chief Information Officer.
Republic of Korea: Amended Preliminary
response options to near the beginning, [FR Doc. 2018–06166 Filed 3–27–18; 8:45 am]
Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, 82
immediately after the husband/wife/ BILLING CODE 3510–07–P FR 56220 (November 28, 2017).
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Document Created: 2018-11-01 08:55:43
Document Modified: 2018-11-01 08:55:43
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 13226 |
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