8756 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 25 / Tuesday, February 9, 2021 / Notices statements to make lending decisions as submission of the information collection address and respond to survey issues to borrowers’ credit worthiness and to request (ICR) to OMB for approval. and needs. As part of the Decennial assure that loan funds are approved, DATES: To ensure consideration, Census Program, the ACS also provides advanced and disbursed for proper RE comments regarding this proposed an opportunity to research and test Act purposes. These financial information collection must be received elements of survey data collection that statements are audited by a certified on or before April 12, 2021. relate to the decennial census. As such, public accountant to provide ADDRESSES: Interested persons are the ACS Methods Panel can serve as a independent assurance that the data invited to submit written comments by testbed for the decennial census. From being reported are properly measured email to [email protected]. Please 2021 to 2024, the ACS Methods Panel and fairly presented. reference American Community Survey may test ACS and decennial census Estimate of Burden: Public reporting Methods Panel Tests in the subject line methods for reducing survey cost, burden for this collection of information of your comments. You may also submit addressing respondent burden, and is estimated to average 8.17 hours per comments, identified by Docket Number improving survey response, data response. USBC–2021–0002, to the Federal quality, and survey efficiencies. The Respondents: Business or other for- e-Rulemaking Portal: http:// ACS Methods Panel may also address profit, Not-for-profit institutions. www.regulations.gov. All comments other emerging needs of the programs. Estimated Number of Respondents At this time, plans are in place to received are part of the public record. and Recordkeepers: 1,300. propose several tests related to self- No comments will be posted to http:// Estimated Number of Responses per response, group quarters, and www.regulations.gov for public viewing Respondent: 1.35. nonresponse follow up data collection until after the comment period has Estimated Number of Responses: operations. Tests may also be conducted closed. Comments will generally be 1,764. to explore the use of administrative posted without change. All Personally Estimated Total Annual Burden on records. Because the ACS Methods Identifiable Information (for example, Respondents: 14,420 hours. Panel is designed to address emerging Copies of this information collection name and address) voluntarily issues, we may propose additional can be obtained from Lauren Cusick, submitted by the commenter may be testing as needed. Any testing would Regulations and Paperwork publicly accessible. Do not submit focus on methods for reducing data Management Branch, at (202) 720–1414. Confidential Business Information or collection costs, improving data quality, Email: [email protected].) 205– otherwise sensitive or protected improving the respondent experience, 3660, Fax: (202) 720–8435. information. You may submit revising content, or testing new All responses to this notice will be attachments to electronic comments in questions that have a need to be summarized and included in the request Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF included in the Decennial Census for OMB approval. All comments will file formats. Program. The proposed tests are also become a matter of public record. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: outlined below. Requests for additional information or Christopher McLean, Self-Response Mail Messaging and specific questions related to collection Contact Strategies Testing: In response Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service. activities should be directed to G. Brian to declining response rates and [FR Doc. 2021–02600 Filed 2–8–21; 8:45 am] Wilson, U.S. Census Bureau, American increasing costs, the Census Bureau BILLING CODE 3410–15–P Community Survey Office, 301–763– plans to study methods to increase self- 2819, [email protected]. response, the least expensive mode of SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: data collection. The Census Bureau DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE currently sends up to five mailings to a I. Abstract sampled address to inform the Census Bureau The American Community Survey occupants that their address has been (ACS) is an ongoing monthly survey that Agency Information Collection selected to participate in the ACS and collects detailed housing and to encourage them to self-respond to the Activities; Submission to the Office of socioeconomic data from about 3.5 Management and Budget (OMB) for ACS. The proposed tests would evaluate million addresses in the United States changes to the mailings, such as using Review and Approval; Comment and about 36,000 addresses in Puerto plain language to improve Request; American Community Survey Rico each year. The ACS also collects communication, changing the look and Methods Panel Tests detailed socioeconomic data from about feel of the materials, updating messages AGENCY: Census Bureau, Commerce. 195,000 residents living in group to motivate response, and adding or ACTION: Notice of information collection, quarters (GQ) facilities in the United removing materials included in the request for comment. States and Puerto Rico. Resulting mailings. Changes to the contact tabulations from this data collection are method, the number of contacts, and the SUMMARY: The Department of provided on a yearly basis. The ACS timing of the contacts may also be Commerce, in accordance with the allows the Census Bureau to provide tested. Multiple tests may be conducted. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of timely and relevant housing and Respondent Feedback Pilot Test: 1995, invites the general public and socioeconomic statistics, even for low Currently, ACS participants who want other Federal agencies to comment on levels of geography. to give feedback on their survey proposed, and continuing information An ongoing data collection effort with experience must call, email, or send collections, which helps us assess the an annual sample of this magnitude letters directly to the Census Bureau. impact of our information collection requires that the ACS continue research, The Census Bureau is considering requirements and minimize the public’s testing, and evaluations aimed at adding a method for participants to reporting burden. The purpose of this improving data quality, reducing data provide feedback at the end of the notice is to allow for 60 days of public collection costs, and improving the ACS survey. Because collecting respondent comment on the proposed revision of questionnaire content and related data feedback of this nature is new to the the American Community Survey collection materials. The ACS Methods ACS, we conducted cognitive testing to Methods Panel Tests prior to the Panel is a research program designed to inform recommendations on its wording VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:07 Feb 08, 2021 Jkt 253001 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\09FEN1.SGM 09FEN1 khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 25 / Tuesday, February 9, 2021 / Notices 8757 and display. Additionally, we wanted to Group Quarters Testing: The ACS the data collected. The Census Bureau learn about participants’ perceptions samples about 19,000 GQ facilities each proposes evaluating changes to current about having this type of item on the year. A GQ is a place where people live questions by comparing the revised ACS generally, including whether they or stay in a group living arrangement questions to the current ACS questions. understood its purpose. Cognitive that is owned or managed by an entity For new questions, the Census Bureau testing resulted in recommended or organization providing housing and/ proposes comparing the performance of wording for the feedback question and or services for the residents. There are two versions of any new questions and indicated that respondents understood two categories of GQs: Institutional and benchmark results with other well- the purpose of the feedback question noninstitutional. Institutional GQs known sources of such information. The (Katz, forthcoming). The Census Bureau include places such as correctional questions would be tested using all is now ready to pilot a feedback facilities and nursing homes. modes of data collection. Response bias question to establish a way to process Noninstitutional GQs include college or variance may also be measured to the comments and evaluate the type of housing, military barracks, and evaluate the questions by conducting a comments received. Respondents will residential treatment centers. Most follow up interview with respondents. not be required to answer the feedback interviews conducted in GQs are Multiple tests may be conducted. question. interviewer-administered (94 percent of Additional content testing may include Testing the Use of Administrative interviews in institutional GQs and 75 a shift in the content collection strategy Data: The Census Bureau has made percent in noninstitutional GQs), but for the fifth person in the household on significant progress exploring the use of some GQ respondents self-respond the paper questionnaire. In order to administrative data in surveys and using a paper questionnaire. The Census reduce respondent burden for large censuses, potentially as a substitute for Scientific Advisory Committee Working households who self-respond using the questions asked of respondents. Group on Group Quarters in the