2013 National Census Contact Test

Advance Letter (2020 Test 15)

DRAFT

[NAME]

[ID NUMBER]

[STREET ADDRESS]

[CITY, STATE ZIP]

January 3, 2013

A message from the Director, U.S. Census Bureau…

We are contacting you to request your help with a brief, one-time telephone survey for the 2013 National Census Contact Test. The goal of this survey is to develop new methods to make the next census easier, more convenient, and less costly for taxpayers. Sometime in the next few weeks, a Census Bureau representative will call you to ask a few simple questions about your household.

Your cooperation in this research is important. Results from the next census will determine congressional representation, as required by the U.S. Constitution. Accurate data are crucial in deciding how federal and state funds are distributed each year, including funding for highways, schools, health facilities and many other programs you and your neighbors use and need.

On the back of this letter are answers to some questions you may have about this survey. If you would like more information, please visit www.census.gov/survey_participants or call our toll-free number at 1-866-226-2836.

Thank you in advance for your help.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the purpose of the 2013 National Census Contact Test?

The purpose of the 2013 National Census Contact Test is to explore alternative ways to contact households and collect data, in an effort to increase response and reduce costs. Your answers will only be used for statistical purposes, and for no other purpose.

Why was I selected?

Your address, not you personally, was chosen as part of a randomly selected sample. Your address represents thousands of other households like yours.

How will I know that the phone call is from a legitimate Census Bureau employee?

This survey has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). For this survey, the OMB approval number is ____-____. Anybody that contacts you should be able to provide this same OMB number. For more information about determining if you are part of a legitimate Census Bureau survey, visit www.census.gov/survey_participants and click the “Household Surveys” tab.

What confidentiality protection do I have?

Federal law protects your privacy and keeps your answers confidential (Title 13, United States Code, Section 9 and 214). The answers you provide cannot be obtained by law enforcement, tax collection agencies, or marketers. Your answers cannot be used in court. They cannot be obtained with a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. Please visit www.census.gov/privacy to learn more about our privacy policy and data protection.

What laws authorize you to conduct this survey?

The Census Bureau is conducting this survey under the authority of Title 13, United States Code, Sections 141 and 193. You are required by U.S. law to respond to this survey.

How long does this survey take?

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that, for the average household, this survey will take about 7 minutes to complete, including the time for reviewing the instructions and answers. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this burden to: Paperwork Reduction Project ____-____, U.S. Census Bureau, AMSD-3K138, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Washington, DC 20233. You may e-mail comments to [email protected]; use "Paperwork Project ____-____" as the subject. Respondents are not required to respond to any information collection unless it displays a valid approval number from the Office of Management and Budget.