83 FR 32832 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Annual Capital Expenditures Survey

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 136 (July 16, 2018)

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 136 (Monday, July 16, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32832-32833]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-15070]


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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 136 / Monday, July 16, 2018 / 
Notices

[[Page 32832]]



DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

 Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Annual Capital 
Expenditures Survey

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on 
or before September 14, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230 (or via the internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Valerie Mastalski, U.S. Census Bureau, Room HQ-
8K073, Washington, DC 20233; (301) 763-3317 (or via the internet at 
[email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The U.S. Census Bureau plans to conduct the 2018 through 2020 
Annual Capital Expenditures Survey (ACES). This survey collects data on 
fixed assets and depreciation, sales and receipts, capitalized computer 
software, and capital expenditures for new and used structures and 
equipment. The ACES is the sole source of detailed comprehensive 
statistics on actual business spending for private non-farm companies, 
organizations, and associations operating in the United States. Both 
employer and nonemployer companies are included in the survey.
    The Bureau of Economic Analysis is the primary Federal user of ACES 
data. BEA relies on ACES data to refine and evaluate annual estimates 
of investment in structures and equipment in the national income and 
product accounts, compile annual input-output tables, and compute gross 
domestic product by industry. The Federal Reserve Board uses these data 
to improve estimates of investment indicators for monetary policy. The 
Bureau of Labor Statistics uses these data to improve estimates of 
capital stocks for productivity analysis. The Centers for Medicare and 
Medicaid Services use these data for developing estimates of investment 
in private health care structures and equipment as a part of the 
National Health Expenditure Accounts. Industry analysts use these data 
for market analysis, economic forecasting, identifying business 
opportunities, product development, and business planning.
    Planned changes from the previous ACES are the elimination of 
detailed capital expenditures by type of structure and type of 
equipment. These data are collected in years ending in -2 and -7, 
concurrently with the Economic Census. They are not in scope of this 
notice, which covers ACES data collection for 2018 through 2020.
    The Census Bureau does plan to add questions on the dollar value of 
new and used robotics expenditures beginning with the 2018 survey. 
These questions will gauge prevalence of robotics use by detail North 
American Industry Classification System (NAICS) industries.

II. Method of Collection

    The initial mailing will include a letter instructing respondents 
to report online. The Census Bureau eliminated the use of paper forms 
with the 2016 ACES. The electronic reporting system provides a cost-
effective and user-friendly method to collect data from companies. The 
Census Bureau will supply companies with a unique authentication code 
for the electronic reporting tool. Respondents will have the option of 
printing out a worksheet that lists all of the questions. Respondents 
will be able to print the worksheet to use as a guide to respond or can 
print the worksheet after completing the questionnaire as a record of 
their response. The online reporting instrument is tailored to the 
company's diversity of operations and number of industries with 
payroll. Employer companies will complete the ACE-1 electronic 
reporting instrument and nonemployers will complete the ACE-2 
electronic reporting instrument.
    Companies will be asked to respond to the survey within 30 days of 
the initial mailing. The Census Bureau will use reminder letters and/or 
telephone calls to encourage participation of companies that have not 
responded within 30 days.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0782.
    Form Number: ACE-1 and ACE-2.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Private, non-farm businesses or other for-profit 
organizations; non-profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: Approximately 70,127 (50,127 
employer companies, and 20,000 nonemployer businesses).
    Estimated Time per Response: The average for all respondents is 
2.27 hours. For employer companies completing form ACE-1, the range is 
2 to 17 hours, averaging 2.78 hours. For companies completing form ACE-
2, the range is less than 1 hour to 2 hours, averaging 1 hour.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 159,134 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $0. (This is not the cost of 
respondents' time, but the indirect costs respondents may incur for 
such things as purchases of specialized software or hardware needed to 
report, or expenditures for accounting or records maintenance services 
required specifically by the collection.)
    Respondents' Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 United States Code, Sections 131 and 182.

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

[[Page 32833]]

proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

Sheleen Dumas,
Departmental Lead PRA Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-15070 Filed 7-13-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-07-P