Federal Register: December 28, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 249)
DOCID: FR Doc 01-31857
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau
NOTICE: NOTICES
ACTION: Agency information collection activities:
DOCUMENT ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
E-Government Survey
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before February 26, 2002.
DOCUMENT 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, Public Law 10413 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).
SUMMARY:
Proposed collection; comment request,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
I. Abstract
Title 13, section 182, of the United States Code authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to conduct surveys deemed necessary to furnish annual and other interim current data on the subjects covered by the Census of Governments.
The recent development of public services dubbed ``Electronic Government,'' or ``EGovernment,'' is a result of the rapid growth of computer access and the Internet. The emergence of electronic technologies has fueled a significant change in the public sector's manner in conducting its business. Current measures of public activityestablished in a period before computersdo not provide gauges of this new and important change. The public sector is a major component of the economy, as both a purchaser and deliverer of goods and services. It is important that our Nation measure this development because the potential effects of this new technology include the promise of greater efficiencies in the delivery of public services, more effective communications between the public and its government, and a wider scope of public services available to more people.
The Census Bureau plans to conduct a survey of state governments in
order to begin measuring the scope and effects of this new activity.
The survey's broad definition of EGovernment includes any government
process conducted online, employing computer enabled electronic
devices. Title 13, section 182, of the United States Code authorizes
the Secretary of Commerce to conduct surveys deemed necessary to
furnish annual and other interim current data on the subjects covered
by the Census of Governments. This survey concentrates on three
different measurable parts of total Information Technology (IT) and E Government:
(1) Infrastructurethe costs to governments of providing
electronic hardware and software that form the backbone of E
Government, and the personnel and organizational supports for total IT and EGovernment;
(2) Processesthe EGovernment interactions of citizens,
businesses, and other governments with their governments; and
(3) Transactionsmeasurements for these EGovernment processes.
The Census Bureau, as the premier national data collection agency, is uniquely situated to measure EGovernment. The current Census Bureau measures of public sector economic activityused by Federal data analysis agencies such as the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Federal Reserve Boardprovide an important basis for making informed policy decisions. The addition of EGovernment information will help governmental leaders at all levels formulate policies that will improve our entire governmental system. Other users of these data will be the State and local governments and related organizations, public interest groups, the academic community, and many business, market and private research organizations.
II. Method of Collection
Basic questionnaires will be sent to the primary technology offices within each state, with additional forms, designed for specific types of departments, agencies, and offices, etc., also incorporated. Information from state governments and the District of Columbia will be compiled by office staff from questionnaire responses collected via standard mail and the Internet.
The Census Bureau will also research the feasibility of developing cooperative data sharing and central collection arrangements with the state governments to minimize respondent burden.
Electronic data collection and dissemination will be developed and incorporated.
OMB Number: None.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Regular.
Affected Public: State governments.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 765 (15 agencies per State government).
Estimated Time Per Response: 6 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 4,590 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Cost: $82,436.40 ($17.96 per hour*). * Based upon the 2000 Annual Employment SurveyAverage hourly rate for state fulltime equivalent employees in financial administration.
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
Legal Authority: Title 13 United States Code, Section 182. III. 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
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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.
Dated: December 20, 2001.
Madeleine Clayton,
Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 0131857 Filed 122701; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 351007P
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions should be directed to Stephen Poyta, Chief, Census Management Staff, Governments Division, U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, DC 202336800 (3014571580).