02-3697. Notice of Proposed Information Collection for Public Comment: Section 8 Random Digit Dialing Fair Market Rent Telephone Survey

AGENCY:

Office of Policy Development and Research, HUD.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The proposed information collection requirement described below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal.

DATES:

Comments Due Date: April 16, 2002.

ADDRESSES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding this proposal. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and/or OMB Control Number and should be sent to: Reports Liaison Officer, Office of Policy Development and Research, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW, Room 8228, Washington, DC 20410.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Marie Lihn, Economic and Market Analysis Division, Office of Policy Development and Research, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW, Room 8222, Washington, DC 20410; telephone [phone], extension 5866; e-mail [e-mail]. This is not a toll-free number. Copies of the proposed forms and other available documents submitted to OMB may be obtained from Ms. Lihn.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Department of Housing and Urban Development will submit the proposed information collection package to OMB for review as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended).

This Notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of information to: (1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond; including the use of appropriate automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.

This Notice also lists the following information:

Title of Proposal: Section 8 Random Digit Dialing Fair Market Rent Telephone Survey. OMB Control Number: 2528-0142.

Description of the need for the information and proposed use: This provides HUD with a fast, inexpensive way to estimate and update Section 8 Fair Market Rents (FMRs) in areas not covered by AHS or CPI surveys, and in areas where FMRs are believed to be incorrect. It also provides estimates of annual rent changes. Section 8(C)(1) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 requires the Secretary to publish Fair Market Rents (FMRs) annually to be effective on October 1 of each year. FMRs are used for the Section 8 Rental Certificate Program (including space rentals by owners of manufactured homes under that program); the Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room Occupancy program; housing assisted under the Loan Management and Property Disposition programs; payment standards for the Rental Voucher program; and any other programs whose regulations specify their use.

Random digit dialing (RDD) telephone surveys have been used for several years to adjust FMRs. These surveys are based on a sampling procedure that uses computers to select statistically random samples of telephone numbers to locate certain types of rental housing units for surveying. HUD contracts with a private company to conduct two types of RDD surveys: (1) Approximately 50 individual FMR areas are surveyed every year to test the accuracy of their FMRs; (2) In addition, 20 RDD surveys are conducted every year to provide updating factors for FMRs not surveyed individually and for Annual Adjustment Factors (AAFs). These surveys are conducted in the non-metropolitan portions of all 10 HUD regions, and in the 10 metropolitan portions that do not have their own Consumer Price Index (CPI) surveys.

Members of affected public: Individuals or households living in areas surveyed.

Estimation of the total numbers of hours needed to prepare the information collection including number of respondents, frequency of response, and hours of response:

Type of survey	Number of phone calls made	Average minutes each	Minutes	Hours
TELEPHONE SURVEYS:
Number who pick up phone but are screened out	416,970	1.16	484,942	8,082
Total interviewed (movers and stayers)	42,205	4.32	182,364	3,039
MAIL SURVEYS	3,984	5.00	19,920	332
Annual Total	463,159		687,226	11,453

Status of the proposed information collection: Pending OMB approval.

Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended; and Section 8(C)(1) of the United States Housing Act of 1937.

Dated: February 7, 2002.

Lawrence L. Thompson,

General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Development & Research.