Various Pretesting Activities

ACS-613B(L)(ENGLISH)
June 2008

DC

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. Census Bureau
Regional Office
Boston, MA 02117-9108

Dear Resident:
Recently, a U.S. Census Bureau representative contacted you in connection with the American
Community Survey. The Census Bureau is conducting this survey under the authority of Title
13, Sections 141, 193, and 221, of the United States Code, and response to this survey is
required by law. The following is provided to give you an explanation of the importance of the
survey and the uses of the results.
The American Community Survey contains questions about household characteristics
including such topics as education, employment, and housing. It 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 health care, education, and
transportation services that affect you and your community. This survey information also helps
communities plan for emergency situations that might affect you and your neighbors.
We want to emphasize that any information you give our representative will be kept
confidential. By law, the Census Bureau cannot publish or release to anyone any information
that would identify you or your household (Title 13, Section 9). The information you provide
can be used only for statistical purposes. We enclosed some published survey results
compiled from talking with people like you.
A member of our staff will contact you again in a few days. Your participation and cooperation
are important to the success of the survey. Your response does make a difference! If you
have any questions, call us at the phone number provided at the bottom of this letter. We will
be pleased to help you. For more information about the American Community Survey, visit our
website at http://www.census.gov/acs.

Sincerely,

Enclosures
Office Phone Number __________________________________________

USCENSUSBUREAU
Helping You Make Informed Decisions

www.census.gov