[Federal Register: August 2, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 149)]
[Notices]               
[Page 50416-50417]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02au02-31]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau

 
Annual Capital Expenditures Survey

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before October 1, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Madeleine Clayton, 
Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
6608, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via 
the Internet at mclayton@doc.gov).

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 1285-3, 
Washington, DC 20233-6400, (301) 763-3324 or via the Internet at 
charles.allen.funk @census.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 50417]]

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 pre-packaged computer software, value of capitalized custom 
computer software, and value of capitalized own-account (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 
ACE-1 (S) form. Companies that operate in more than one but less than 
nine industries will receive an ACE-1 (M) form. And, companies that 
operate in nine or more industries will receive an ACE-1 (L) form. 
Respondent companies are permitted to respond via facsimile machine to 
our toll-free 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: 0607-0782.
    Form Number: ACE-1 (S), (M), (L), (Sent to employer companies 
reporting payroll to the Internal Revenue Service), and the ACE-2 (Sent 
to nonemployer companies).
    Type of Review: Regular Review.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit 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 ACE-1, the range is from 
2 to 16 hours, averaging 2.8 hours. For nonemployer companies 
completing form ACE-2, 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. 02-19519 Filed 8-1-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P