83 FR 31378 - USPTO Websites Customer Satisfaction Surveys

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Patent and Trademark Office

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 129 (July 5, 2018)

Page Range		31378-31379
FR Document		2018-14383

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, invites comments on a proposed new information collection.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 129 (Thursday, July 5, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 129 (Thursday, July 5, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31378-31379]
From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-14383]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Patent and Trademark Office

USPTO Websites Customer Satisfaction Surveys

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), as
required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, invites comments on a
proposed new information collection.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before September 4,
2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
Email: InformationCollection@uspto.gov. Include ``0651--
New: Generic Clearance comment'' in the subject line of the message.
Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Mail: Marcie Lovett, Director, Records and Information
Governance Division, Office of the Chief Information 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 Marcie Lovett, Director, Records and Information
Governance Division, Office of the Chief Information Officer, United
States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA
22313-1450; by telephone at 571-272-8123; or by email to
Marcie.Lovett@uspto.gov with ``Generic Clearance'' in the subject line.
Additional information about this collection can be found at http://www.reginfo.gov under ``Information Collection Review.''

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

This proposed information collection covers information gathered on
the USPTO Websites Customer Satisfaction Surveys. These surveys provide
a means to consistently assess, benchmark, and improve customer
satisfaction with USPTO websites. The agency has partnered with ForeSee
Results, Inc. to conduct this information collection. ForeSee Results'
methodology (Customer Experience Analytics or CXA) is a derivative of
the widely used American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). This
methodology combines survey data and a patented econometric model to
precisely measure the customer satisfaction of website users, identify
specific areas for improvement, and determine the impact of those
improvements on customer satisfaction. The ultimate purpose of the
surveys covered in this collection is to improve the quality of goods
and services available to customers of the USPTO.
The USPTO Websites Customer Satisfaction Surveys will be completed
subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, Public Law 93-579, December 31,
1974 (5 U.S.C. 522a). The agency information collection will be used
solely for the purpose of the surveys. The contractor will not be
authorized to release any USPTO information obtained through surveys
without first obtaining permission from USPTO. In no case will any new
system of records containing privacy information be developed by the
USPTO or the contractor collecting the data. In addition, USPTO
provides ForeSee only information sufficient to randomly select website
visitors as potential survey respondents.
The information collected in the surveys will enable USPTO to
determine customer satisfaction metrics among various visitor sub-
groups. This information collection will assist USPTO in improving
customer service and addressing areas of concern in a targeted manner.
This survey does not ask any questions of a sensitive nature or
regarding sensitive topics. There is no other agency or organization
able to provide the information that is accessible through the
surveying approach used in this information collection.

II. Method of Collection

Customers will respond to the surveys electronically, as hosted on
USPTO websites.

III. Data

OMB Number: 0651--New.
IC Instruments and Forms: The individual instruments in this
collection, as well as their associated forms, are listed in the table
below.
Type of Review: New collection.
Affected Public: Individuals and households; businesses or other
for-profits; and not-for-profit institutions.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 100,000 responses per year.
Estimated Time per Response: Approximately 8 minutes (0.133 hours)
per response.
Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 13,333.33 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Respondent (Hourly) Cost Burden:
$2,716,133.33. The USPTO expects that attorneys, paralegals and pro se
applicants will complete these applications. The professional hourly
rate for attorneys is $438, and the hourly rates for paralegals and pro
se applicants are $145 and $28.14, respectively. The combination of
these respondent types brings the average respondent rate to $203.71.
The sources for these rates are the 2017 Report of the Economic Survey
of the American Intellectual Property Association (AIPLA), the 2016
National Utilization and Compensation Survey Report of the National
Association of the Legal Assistants (NALA), and the mean rate for
office and administrative

[[Page 31379]]

support workers as found in the May 2017 National Occupational
Employment and Wage Estimates of the U.S Bureau pf Labor Statistics
(occupation code 43-1011). Using this blended hourly rate, the USPTO
estimates that the total respondent cost burden for this collection is
$2,716,133.33 per year.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated
time for Estimated
IC No. Information response annual Estimated annual Rate (S/hr)
collection item responses burden hours
(minutes)
................ (a) (b) (a) x (b) = (c)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1............................ Surveys......... 8 100,000 13,333.33 $203.71
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Total (Three-Year Period) ................ ......... 100,000 13,333.33 $2,716,133.33
(300,000) (40,000) ($8,148,400.00)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 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.
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.

Marcie Lovett,
Director, Records and Information Governance Division, Office of the
Chief Information Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2018-14383 Filed 7-3-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-16-P

31378 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 129 / Thursday, July 5, 2018 / Notices

Therefore, NMFS has determined that by the Paperwork Reduction Act of purpose of the surveys. The contractor
the total taking of affected species or 1995, invites comments on a proposed will not be authorized to release any
stocks would not have an unmitigable new information collection. USPTO information obtained through
adverse impact on the availability of DATES: Written comments must be surveys without first obtaining
such species or stocks for taking for submitted on or before September 4, permission from USPTO. In no case will
subsistence purposes. 2018. any new system of records containing
National Environmental Policy Act privacy information be developed by the
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
USPTO or the contractor collecting the
To comply with the National by any of the following methods:
• Email: InformationCollection@ data. In addition, USPTO provides
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ForeSee only information sufficient to
(NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and uspto.gov. Include ‘‘0651—New:
Generic Clearance comment’’ in the randomly select website visitors as
NOAA Administrative Order (NAO) potential survey respondents.
216–6A, NMFS must review our subject line of the message.
• Federal Rulemaking Portal: http:// The information collected in the
proposed action (i.e., the issuance of an surveys will enable USPTO to
IHA) with respect to potential impacts www.regulations.gov.
• Mail: Marcie Lovett, Director, determine customer satisfaction metrics
on the human environment. among various visitor sub-groups. This
This action is consistent with Records and Information Governance
Division, Office of the Chief Information information collection will assist
categories of activities identified in USPTO in improving customer service
Categorical Exclusion B4 (IHAs with no Officer, United States Patent and
Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, and addressing areas of concern in a
anticipated serious injury or mortality) targeted manner. This survey does not
of the Companion Manual for NOAA Alexandria, VA 22313–1450.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
ask any questions of a sensitive nature
Administrative Order 216–6A, which do or regarding sensitive topics. There is no
not individually or cumulatively have Requests for additional information
should be directed to Marcie Lovett, other agency or organization able to
the potential for significant impacts on provide the information that is
the quality of the human environment Director, Records and Information
Governance Division, Office of the Chief accessible through the surveying
and for which we have not identified approach used in this information
any extraordinary circumstances that Information Officer, United States
Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box collection.
would preclude this categorical
exclusion. Accordingly, NMFS has 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313–1450; by II. Method of Collection
determined that the issuance of the IHA telephone at 571–272–8123; or by email Customers will respond to the surveys
qualifies to be categorically excluded to Marcie.Lovett@uspto.gov with electronically, as hosted on USPTO
from further NEPA review. ‘‘Generic Clearance’’ in the subject line. websites.
Additional information about this
Endangered Species Act (ESA) collection can be found at http:// III. Data
No incidental take of ESA-listed www.reginfo.gov under ‘‘Information OMB Number: 0651—New.
species is authorized or expected to Collection Review.’’ IC Instruments and Forms: The
result from this activity. Therefore, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: individual instruments in this
NMFS has determined that formal collection, as well as their associated
consultation under section 7 of the ESA I. Abstract
forms, are listed in the table below.
is not required for this action. This proposed information collection Type of Review: New collection.
Authorization covers information gathered on the Affected Public: Individuals and
USPTO Websites Customer Satisfaction households; businesses or other for-
As a result of these determinations, Surveys. These surveys provide a means profits; and not-for-profit institutions.
NMFS has issued an IHA to Point Blue to consistently assess, benchmark, and Estimated Number of Respondents:
for the potential harassment of small improve customer satisfaction with 100,000 responses per year.
numbers of marine mammals incidental USPTO websites. The agency has Estimated Time per Response:
to seabird research activities in central partnered with ForeSee Results, Inc. to Approximately 8 minutes (0.133 hours)
California, provided the previously conduct this information collection. per response.
mentioned mitigation, monitoring and ForeSee Results’ methodology Estimated Total Annual Respondent
reporting requirements are incorporated. (Customer Experience Analytics or Burden Hours: 13,333.33 hours.
Dated: June 29, 2018. CXA) is a derivative of the widely used Estimated Total Annual Respondent
Donna S. Wieting, American Customer Satisfaction Index (Hourly) Cost Burden: $2,716,133.33.
Director, Office of Protected Resources, (ACSI). This methodology combines The USPTO expects that attorneys,
National Marine Fisheries Service. survey data and a patented econometric paralegals and pro se applicants will
[FR Doc. 2018–14440 Filed 7–3–18; 8:45 am] model to precisely measure the complete these applications. The
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P customer satisfaction of website users, professional hourly rate for attorneys is
identify specific areas for improvement, $438, and the hourly rates for paralegals
and determine the impact of those and pro se applicants are $145 and
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE improvements on customer satisfaction. $28.14, respectively. The combination
The ultimate purpose of the surveys of these respondent types brings the
Patent and Trademark Office covered in this collection is to improve average respondent rate to $203.71. The
the quality of goods and services sources for these rates are the 2017
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1

USPTO Websites Customer available to customers of the USPTO. Report of the Economic Survey of the
Satisfaction Surveys The USPTO Websites Customer American Intellectual Property
ACTION: Proposed collection; comment Satisfaction Surveys will be completed Association (AIPLA), the 2016 National
request. subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, Utilization and Compensation Survey
Public Law 93–579, December 31, 1974 Report of the National Association of
SUMMARY: The United States Patent and (5 U.S.C. 522a). The agency information the Legal Assistants (NALA), and the
Trademark Office (USPTO), as required collection will be used solely for the mean rate for office and administrative

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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 129 / Thursday, July 5, 2018 / Notices 31379

support workers as found in the May U.S Bureau pf Labor Statistics estimates that the total respondent cost
2017 National Occupational (occupation code 43–1011). Using this burden for this collection is
Employment and Wage Estimates of the blended hourly rate, the USPTO $2,716,133.33 per year.

Estimated
Information Estimated Estimated
time for Rate
IC No. collection annual annual
response (S/hr)
item responses burden hours
(minutes)

(a) (b) (a) × (b) = (c)

1 ......................................................................................... Surveys ........ 8 100,000 13,333.33 $203.71

Total (Three-Year Period) .......................................... ...................... ................ 100,000 13,333.33 $2,716,133.33
(300,000) (40,000) ($8,148,400.00)

Estimated Total Annual (Non-hour) invites comments on a proposed and do not permit input from third
Respondent Cost Burden: $0. There are extension of an existing information parties. The rules outlining ex parte
no capital start-up, maintenance, collection: 0651–0064 (Patent reexaminations are found at 37 CFR
postage, or recordkeeping costs Reexaminations and Supplemental 1.510–1.570.
associated with this information Examinations). 35 U.S.C. 257 permits a patent owner
collection. DATES: Written comments must be to request supplemental examination of
IV. Request for Comments submitted on or before September 4, a patent by the USPTO to consider,
2018. reconsider, or correct information
Comments are invited on:
(a) Whether the proposed collection of ADDRESSES: You may submit comments believed to be relevant to the patent.
information is necessary for the proper by any of the following methods: The rules outlining supplemental
performance of the functions of the • Email: InformationCollection@ examination are found at 37 CFR 1.601–
agency, including whether the uspto.gov. Include ‘‘0651–0064 1.625.
information shall have practical utility; comment’’ in the subject line of the The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act
(b) the accuracy of the agency’s message. terminated inter partes reexamination
estimate of the burden (including hours • Federal Rulemaking Portal: http:// effective September 16, 2012. However,
and cost) of the proposed collection of www.regulations.gov. inter partes reexamination proceedings
information; • Mail: Marcie Lovett, Director, based on inter partes reexamination
(c) ways to enhance the quality, Records and Information Governance requests filed before September 16,
utility, and clarity of the information to Division, Office of the Chief Technology 2012, continue to be prosecuted.
be collected; and Officer, United States Patent and Therefore, this collection continues to
(d) ways to minimize the burden of Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, include items related to the prosecution
the collection of information on Alexandria, VA 22313–1450. of inter partes reexamination
respondents, e.g., the use of automated FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: proceedings. The rules outlining inter
collection techniques or other forms of Requests for additional information partes reexamination are found at 37
information technology. should be directed to Raul Tamayo, CFR 1.903–1.931.
Comments submitted in response to Senior Legal Advisor, Office of the
this notice will be summarized or Thus, the items included in this
Patent Legal Administration, United
included in the request for OMB collection cover: (1) Requests for ex
States Patent and Trademark Office,
approval of this information collection; parte reexamination, (2) requests for
P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313–
they also will become a matter of public 1450; by telephone at 571–272–7728; or supplemental examination, and (3)
record. by email to Raul.Tamayo@uspto.gov information that may be submitted by
with ‘‘0651–0064 comment’’ in the patent owners and third-party
Marcie Lovett, requesters in relation to the prosecution
Director, Records and Information subject line. Additional information
about this collection is also available at of an ex parte or inter partes
Governance Division, Office of the Chief reexamination proceeding. The
Information Officer, United States Patent and http://www.reginfor.gov under
Trademark Office. ‘‘Information Collection Review.’’ transmittal forms are used by a requester
(patent owner or third party) as a
[FR Doc. 2018–14383 Filed 7–3–18; 8:45 am] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
checklist to ensure compliance with the
BILLING CODE 3510–16–P
I. Abstract requirements of the statutes and rules
The United States Patent and for ex parte reexaminations and
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Trademark Office (USPTO) is required supplemental examinations. The public
by 35 U.S.C. 131 and 151 to examine uses this information collection to
Patent and Trademark Office applications and, when appropriate, request ex parte reexamination and
allow applications and issue them as supplemental examination, to prosecute
Patent Reexaminations and patents. Chapter 30 of Title 35 U.S.C. reexamination proceedings, and to
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1

Supplemental Examinations provides that any person at any time ensure that the associated
may file a request for reexamination by documentation is submitted to the
ACTION: Proposed collection; comment USPTO.
request. the USPTO of any claim of a patent on
the basis of prior art patents or printed II. Method of Collection
SUMMARY: The United States Patent and publications. Once initiated, the
Trademark Office (USPTO), as required reexamination proceedings under By mail, facsimile, hand delivery, or
by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 Chapter 30 are substantially ex parte electronically to the USPTO.

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Document Created: 2018-07-03 23:39:46
Document Modified: 2018-07-03 23:39:46

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
Action		Proposed collection; comment request.
Dates		Written comments must be submitted on or before September 4, 2018.
Contact		Requests for additional information should be directed to Marcie Lovett, Director, Records and Information Governance Division, Office of the Chief Information Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450; by telephone at 571-272-8123; or by email to [email protected] with ``Generic Clearance'' in the subject line.
FR Citation		83 FR 31378

83 FR 31378 - USPTO Websites Customer Satisfaction Surveys

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCEPatent and Trademark Office

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 129 (July 5, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Patent and Trademark Office