FY 2006 CHANGES IN BURDEN

FY 2006 Burden Reductions from Changing Forms

Agency: Department of Commerce
OMB Control Number: 0610-0105

Title: Adjustment Assistance Proposals: Sections 315.6 and 315.16 of Economic Development Administration (EDA) Interim Final Rule regarding EDA'sTrade Adjustment Assistance for Firms Program (TAA Program)

Purpose of the Collection: The Purpose of this collection is to meet the requirements for submission of an appropriate adjustment proposal for technical assistance in the TAA program.

How Reduction Achieved: To better account for the full range of information collections pertaining to EDA's Trade AdjustmentAssistance for Firms Program (TAA Program), this formwas discontinued and consolidated into an existing OMBControl Number 0610-0091.

Change in Burden: -21,600 hours

Agency: Department of Commerce
OMB Control Number: 607-0912

Title: Survey of Industrial Research & Development

Purpose of the Collection: This survey measures the amount and indicates the direction of R&D expenditures by U.S. industry. Government agencies, corporations, academic researchers, trade associations, research organizations, and others use the survey statistics to analyze and forecast technological growth, investigate productivity determinants, formulate tax policy, and compare individual company performance with industry averages.

How Reduction Achieved: The Census Bureau asked respondents in this survey how long it takes to fill out the forms. Based on the results of that inquiry, Census is reducing the estimated time it takes to complete the form RD-1 from 18.5 hours to 8 hours.

Change in Burden: -31,500 hours

Agency Department of Commerce
OMB Control Number: 0610-0091

Title: Petition by a firm for certification of Eligibility to apply for Trade Adjustment assistance Form ED 840P of EDA’s Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms program (TAA program)

Purpose of the Collection: Data collection helps to demonstrate that increased imports are an important cause of manufacturing or producing firms 1) decline in sales or production and 2) separation or threatened separation of a significant portion of its workers.

Why Increase Occurred: To better account for the full range of information collections pertaining to EDA’s TAA program, this form ED-840P absorbed the burdon hors from the EDA discontinued form under OMB Control Number 0610-0105, Adjustment Assistance Proposals Sections 315.6 and 315.16 of EDA’s Interim Final rule.

Change in Burden: +21,601 hours

Agency: Department of Commerce
OMB Control Number: 0607-0919

Title: 2006 Census Test

Purpose of the collection: Test of forms and procedures for the 2010 Census.

Why Increase Occurred: Collection to be submitted as new.

Purpose of the Collection:

Change in Burden: 37,808 hours

Agency: Department of Commerce

OMB Control Number: 0607-0924

Title: 2007 Economic Census, Classification Report NC-99023

Purpose of the collection: To collect classifying information from select businesses prior to mailing the 2007 Economic Census.

Why Increase Occurred: Collection to be submitted as new.

Change in Burden: 33,333 hours

FY 2006 Burden Increases from Statutory Requirements

Agency: Department of Commerce
OMB Control Number: 0651-0016

Title: Rules for Patent Maintenance Fees

Purpose of the Collection: To maintain utility patents, to petition the USPTO to accept delayed or refused payments, and to designate an address to be used for fee-related correspondence.

Why Increase Occurred: A revision of the maintenance fee schedule associated with keeping utility patents in force at 3 ½, 7 ½, and 11 ½ years. Statute Title and Public Law: The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 (P.L. 108-447).

Change in Burden: $59,449,000 in annual costs

FY 2006 Burden Increases from Miscellaneous Actions

Agency: Department of Commerce
OMB Control Number: 0651-0031

Title: Patent Processing (Updating)

Purpose of the Collection: Permits the submission of additional information during the pendency of a patent application or the period of enforceability of a patent so that the USPTO can continue processing the patent or application.

Why Increase Occurred: Requirements for claims and information disclosure statements from proposed rulemakings were added and a new form was introduced.

Change in Burden: 468,600 hours

Agency: Department of Commerce
OMB Control Number: 0651-0043

Title: Patent and Trademark Financial Transactions

Purpose of the Collection: Allows customers to pay patent and trademark fees by credit card, to manage a USPTO deposit account, to establish a profile for electronic funds transfers (EFT), and to request refunds.

Why Increase Occurred: New electronic filing initiatives increased electronic payment options and new information was collected to support deposit accounts, EFT payments, and refund requests.

Change in Burden: 25,912 hours

FY 2007 CHANGES IN BURDEN

FY 2007 Burden Reductions from Cutting Redundancy

Agency: Department of Commerce

OMB Control Number: 0607-0444

Title: Company Organization Survey (COS)

Purpose of the Collection: The Census Bureau conducts the annual COS in order to maintain and update a centralized, multipurpose Business Register (BR). In particular, the COS supplies critical information on the organizational structure, operating characteristics, and employment and payroll of multi-location enterprises.

How Reduction Achieved: The Census Bureau will conduct the 2007 COS in conjunction with the 2007 Economic Census and will coordinate these collections so as to minimize response burden. The decrease in response burden is the result of obtaining most multi-location establishment data as part of the Economic Census.

Change in Burden: -111,834 hours

FY 2007 Burden Reductions from Changing Forms

Agency: Department of Commerce

OMB Control Number: 0607-0905

Title: Survey of Income and Program Participation 2004 Panel

Purpose of the Collection: This survey provides improved statistics for the executive and legislative branches on income distribution and data previously available on eligibility for and participation in government programs. Changes in status and participation will be measured over time. These data support policy and program planning.

How Reduction Achieved: Due to budget constraints, Census is limiting the sample for the 2004 Wave 10, 11, and 12 interviews to 21,292 households per wave, and is not including any topical modules (supplemental questions).

Change in Burden: -80,426 hours

FY 2007 Burden Increases from Statutory Requirements

Agency: Department of Commerce

OMB Control Number: 0660-New

Title: Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program – Information Collection from Consumers

Purpose of the Collection: To determine eligibility for the coupon program, to coordinate activities, and to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse in the administration of the coupon program.

Why Increase Occurred: This is a new collection that is necessary to implement the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-171).

Change in Burden: 5,250,000 hours

Agency: Department of Commerce

OMB Control Number: 0651-0021

Title: Patent Cooperation Treaty

Purpose of the Collection: To process, search, and examine international patent applications under the provisions of the Patent Cooperation Treaty, which allows applicants to file one standardized application to seek protection for an invention in over 100 designated countries.

Why Increase Occurred: A revision of the fee structure for international applications entering the national stage to provide for separate national, search, and examination fees, as provided for under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 (P.L. 108-447).

Change in Burden: $41,549,248 in annual costs

Agency: Department of Commerce

OMB Control Number: 0651-0032

Title: Initial Patent Applications

Purpose of the Collection: Allows applicants to submit initial filing and other applications to the USPTO to obtain patents.

Why Increase Occurred: An increase in the number of filings due to a reduced filing fee for small entities filing utility applications electronically, and a new fee for applications in which the specification and drawings exceed 100 sheets of paper, as provided for by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 (P.L. 108-447).

Change in Burden: $24,307,575 in annual costs

Agency: Department of Commerce

OMB Control Number: 0651-0033

Title: Post Allowance and Refiling

Purpose of the Collection: Permits applicants to pay the issue fee to receive their patent and avoid abandonment of the application, to request ex parte and inter partes reexaminations, to correct errors in a patent, and to request reissue patents.

Why Increase Occurred: The fee structure was revised for reissue applications to provide for separate national, search, and examination fees, and patent issue fees were adjusted to reflect fluctuations in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), as provided for by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 (P.L. 108-447).

Change in Burden: $15,676,455 in annual costs

FY 2007 Burden Increases from Miscellaneous Actions

Agency: Department of Commerce

OMB Control Number: 0651-0012

Title: Admittance to Practice and Roster of Registered Patent Attorneys and Agents Admitted to Practice Before the United States Patent and Trademark Office

Purpose of the Collection: Applicants use this collection to apply for the examination for registration and to demonstrate their eligibility to be a registered attorney or agent before the USPTO.

Why Increase Occurred: New requirements and forms for the registration of practitioners.

Change in Burden: 62,234 hours

Agency: Department of Commerce

OMB Control Number: 0651-0031

Title: Patent Processing (Updating)

Purpose of the Collection: Permits the submission of additional information during the pendency of a patent application or the period of enforceability of a patent so that the USPTO can continue processing the patent or application.

Why Increase Occurred: Additional costs related to new requirements and increased fees for existing requirements based on fluctuations in the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Change in Burden: $14,122,315 in annual costs

Agency: Department of Commerce

OMB Control Number: 0651-0032

Title: Initial Patent Application

Purpose of the Collection: Allows applicants to submit initial filing and other applications to the USPTO to obtain patents.

Why Increase Occurred: Introduction of electronic filing for design applications and additional costs associated with the electronic filing option.

Change in Burden: 66,220 hours and $8,630,555 in annual costs

FY 2007 Burden Reductions from Miscellaneous Actions

Agency: Department of Commerce

OMB Control Number: 0607-0924

Title: 2007 Economic Census General Classification Report

Purpose of the Collection: The results will be used to update the classification codes in the Business Register.

How Reduction Achieved: Due to budget constraints, Census will mail this information collection to fewer respondents than originally projected.

Change in Burden: -23,333 hours

FY 2007 Burden Increases from Miscellaneous Actions

Agency: Department of Commerce

OMB Control Number: 0607-0932

Title: 2007 Economic Census, Commodity Flow Survey (CFS)

Purpose of the Collection: The 2007 CFS provides a crucial, unique set of transportation statistics. Results will show the origin, destination, mode of transportation, value, weight, ton-miles, and average miles per shipment of commodities. These data are needed by transportation decision makers at the Federal and local levels to analyze, maintain, and improve the transportation infrastructure.

Why Increase Occurred: The collection was submitted as new during FY 2007.

Change in Burden: 800,000 hours

Agency: Department of Commerce

OMB Control Number: 0607-0422

Title: Service Annual Survey

Purpose of the Collection: The survey produces estimates of revenue and expenses, and, for selected industries, products, inventories, and revenue from exported services. These data are needed for national income accounting, productivity, and price measurement. The program addresses the highest priority needs of multiple Federal agencies and private users.

Why Increase Occurred: The Census Bureau has increased the sample size and expanded expense detail items.

Change in Burden: 37,420 hours

Agency: Department of Commerce

OMB Control Number: 0607-0175

Title: Survey of Plant Capacity Utilization

Purpose of the Collection: This survey collects data on plant capacity from a sample of manufacturing and publishing establishments in the United States. The data are used by the Federal Reserve Board to measure inflationary pressure, capital changes, and capacity growth. Data are also used by the Defense Logistics Agency to assess demands on plant capacity in case of a national emergency.

Why Increase Occurred: Census modified the survey to include a quarterly collection.

Change in Burden: 36,000 hours

Agency: Department of Commerce

OMB Control Number: 0607-NEW

Title: American Community Survey 2007 Methods Panel

Purpose of the Collection: The methods panel is a test of proposed new content and cost containment strategies in the American Community Survey.

Why Increase Occurred: The collection was submitted as new during FY 2007.

Change in Burden: 46,000 hours

Agency: Department of Commerce

OMB Control Number: 0607-0810

Title: American Community Survey

Purpose of the Collection: The American Community Survey collects accurate and timely socioeconomic and housing information historically collected during the decennial census.

Why Increase Occurred: Census has re-estimated the sample size based on U.S. population growth.

Change in Burden: 77,090 hours

Agency: Department of Commerce

OMB Control Number: 0607-NEW

Title: 2008 Census Dress Rehearsal

Purpose of the Collection: This is a final test of the forms and procedures to be used in conducting the 2010 Decennial Census.

Why Increase Occurred: This collection will be submitted as new during FY 2007

Change in Burden: 33,800 hours

Agency: Department of Commerce

OMB Control Number: 0607-0151

Title: Boundary and Annexation Survey

Purpose of the Collection: This survey is used to collect and maintain information about the boundaries, names, and governmental status of counties and equivalent entities, minor civil divisions (MCDs), municipalities, Federally recognized American Indian (AI) reservations, and off-reservation trust lands, and Alaska Native Regional Corporations, and to provide accurate identification of these geographic areas for the decennial and economic censuses, other statistical programs of the Census Bureau, and legislative programs of the Federal Government.

Why Increase Occurred: The increase in burden reflects the Census Bureau’s varying requirements to collect this information throughout the decade for its censuses, household surveys, and partnerships.

Change in Burden: 117,500 hours

Agency: Department of Commerce

OMB Control Number: 0607-0452

Title: Government Employment Forms

Purpose of the Collection: This program provides government employment and wage data for state and local governments. The data are used to monitor the government sector of the economy and to formulate, develop, and review public policy. Federal agencies, state and local governments and the private sector use these data.

Why Increase Occurred: The forms contained in this information collection are used to conduct both the annual government employment survey and once every five years to collect information from the universe of state and local governments. The increase in burden reflects the broader collection of the five-year census including state and local governments.

Change in Burden: 68,396 hours

Agency: Department of Commerce

OMB Control Number: 0607-0585

Title: Government Finance Forms

Purpose of the Collection: This program provides government finance data for state and local governments. The Census Bureau provides these data to the Federal Reserve Board for constructing the Nation's Flow of Funds Accounts, and the Bureau of Economic Analysis for their National Income and Product Accounts. The data is also used to monitor the government sector of the economy, and to formulate, develop, and review public policy. Federal agencies, state and local governments, and the private sector all use these data.

Why Increase Occurred: The forms contained in this information collection are used to conduct both the annual government finance survey and once every five years to collect information from the universe of state and local governments. The increase in burden reflects the broader collection of the five-year census including state and local governments.

Change in Burden: 97,869 hours