Browse: Departments   Dates   Agencies  

NOTICE: NOTICES

ACTION: Agency information collection activities:

DOCUMENT ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

SUBJECT CATEGORY: Annual Capital Expenditures Survey

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before October 1, 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

The Census Bureau plans the continuing information collection for the 2002 Annual Capital Expenditures Survey (ACES). The annual survey collects data on fixed assets and depreciation, sales and receipts, capitalized computer software developed for internal use, and capital expenditures for new and used structures and equipment. The ACES is the sole source of detailed comprehensive statistics on actual business spending by domestic, private, nonfarm businesses operating in the United States. Industrial sectors covered by the survey are based on the 1997 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). Both employer and nonemployer companies are included in the survey.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the primary Federal user of our annual program statistics, uses the information in refining and evaluating annual estimates of investment in structures and equipment in the national income and product accounts, compiling annual input output tables, and computing gross domestic product (GDP) by industry. The Federal Reserve Board (FRB) uses the data to improve estimates of investment indicators for monetary policy. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) uses the data to improve estimates of capital stocks for productivity analysis.

Industry analysts use these data for market analysis, economic forecasting, identifying business opportunities, product development, and business planning.

Proposed changes to the collection are the elimination of two questions requesting the estimated cost of assets acquired under capital lease arrangements entered into during the year, and the amount of capitalized interest incurred during the year to produce or construct assets reported as capital expenditures; and, the addition of a request for data on capitalized costs of computer software developed or obtained for internal use. Data relating to assets acquired under capital lease arrangements (previously collected from employer and nonemployer companies) and capitalized interest (previously collected from employer companies only) will continue to be included as capital expenditures, but the individual questions regarding each will be eliminated. The new question related to computer software will request from employer companies, total capitalized computer software, value of capitalized prepackaged computer software, value of capitalized custom computer software, and value of capitalized ownaccount (internally developed) computer software.

II. Method of Collection

The Census Bureau will use mail out/mail back survey forms to collect data. Employer companies will be mailed one of three forms based on their diversity of operations and number of industries with payroll. Companies that operate in only one industry will receive an ACE1 (S) form. Companies that operate in more than one but less than nine industries will receive an ACE1 (M) form. And, companies that operate in nine or more industries will receive an ACE1 (L) form. Respondent companies are permitted to respond via facsimile machine to our tollfree number. Companies will be asked to respond to the survey within 30 days of the initial mailing. Letters and/or telephone calls encouraging participation will be directed to companies that have not responded by the designated time.
III. Data

OMB Number: 06070782.

Form Number: ACE1 (S), (M), (L), (Sent to employer companies reporting payroll to the Internal Revenue Service), and the ACE2 (Sent to nonemployer companies).

Type of Review: Regular Review.

Affected Public: Businesses or other forprofit organizations, non profit institutions, small businesses or organizations, and self employed individuals.

Estimated Number of Respondents: Approximately 61,000 (46,000 employer companies, and 15,000 nonemployer companies).

Estimated Time Per Response: The average for all respondents is 2.4 hours. For employer companies completing form ACE1, the range is from 2 to 16 hours, averaging 2.8 hours. For nonemployer companies completing form ACE2, the range is from less than 1 hour to 2 hours, averaging 1 hour.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 145,000 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Respondents: $3 million.

Respondents' Obligation: Mandatory.

Legal Authority: Title 13 United States Code, Sections 182, 224, and 225.

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, 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: July 30, 2002.
Madeleine Clayton,
Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 0219519 Filed 8102; 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 Charles Funk, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 12853, Washington, DC 202336400, (301) 7633324 or via the Internet at charles.allen.funk @census.gov.