Various Pretesting Activities

Draft 3 (9-24-2009)

DC

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR

Dear Resident:
The U.S. Census Bureau is conducting a very important survey called the American
Community Survey (ACS). The ACS is separate from the 2010 Census. This year, some
residents will be contacted by representatives from the ACS and from the 2010 Census. Your
response to both is required by U.S. law.
An ACS field representative from the Census Bureau will conduct a personal interview with
you, or you may complete the survey questionnaire yourself. If you fill out the questionnaire
yourself, please place it in the envelope that the ACS field representative gave you. The field
representative will arrange for a convenient time to pick it up.
The ACS produces critical, up-to-date information that is used to meet the needs of
communities across the United States. For example, results from this survey may be used to
decide where new schools, hospitals, and fire stations are needed. Survey data are used by
federal, state, and local governments to make decisions and to develop programs that will
provide healthcare, education, and transportation services that affect you and your community.
The Census Bureau chose this facility, not you personally, as part of a randomly selected
sample. You are required by U.S. law to respond to this survey (Title 13, United States Code
(U.S.C.), Sections 141, 193, 221, and 223). We estimate this survey will take about 25
minutes of your time.
We want to emphasize that any information you give our field representative will be kept
confidential. By law, the Census Bureau cannot publish or release to anyone any information
that would identify you (Title 13, U.S.C., Section 9). The information you provide can only be
used for statistical purposes. The enclosed brochure provides answers to frequently asked
questions about the ACS.
If you have access to the Internet and want to learn more about the ACS, please visit the
Census Bureau’s Web site at: . Thank you for your help.
Sincerely,

Robert M. Groves
Director
Enclosure

ACS-17(L)(GQ)(2010) (8-2009)

USCENSUSBUREAU
Helping You Make Informed Decisions

www.census.gov