Overview
Title
Agency Information Collection Activities: Renewal of an Approved Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration wants people to tell them what they think about how they are doing their job, so they can make it better. People can say what they think in different ways, like online or by sending a letter.
Summary AI
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is seeking public comments on its plan to extend the current Information Collection Request (ICR) titled "Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery." This initiative will help FMCSA communicate better with its customers and stakeholders by collecting feedback on their experiences. The feedback, which is voluntary and intended to be informative but not broadly generalizable, aims to improve service delivery. Comments must be submitted by April 13, 2021, and can be provided through several methods, including online or mail.
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FMCSA announces its plan to submit the Information Collection Request (ICR) described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for its review and approval, and invites public comment. FMCSA requests approval to extend an existing ICR titled, "Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery." This ICR allows for ongoing, collaborative and actionable communication between FMCSA and its customers and stakeholders. It also allows feedback to contribute directly to the improvement of program management. The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for public comment before FMCSA submits its request to OMB.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document at hand outlines the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) initiative to extend its Information Collection Request titled "Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery." This program is designed to gather qualitative feedback from a range of respondents, including state and local agencies, industry stakeholders, and the general public. The aim is to enhance communication and improve service delivery by collecting insights on customer experiences with FMCSA's programs.
General Summary
The notice underscores FMCSA's commitment to improving public service through the soliciting of feedback from users of their services. This feedback is intended to be voluntary and focuses on perceptions and opinions rather than quantitative data. The feedback will help FMCSA make informed decisions to improve service efficiency, timeliness, and accuracy. The agency is inviting public comments before the plan is formally submitted for approval.
Significant Issues or Concerns
Technical Language and Complexity: The document references several technical terms and legal codes that might not be easily understood by a general audience. Concepts such as the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and OMB Control Numbers may require further explanation to ensure comprehension by non-experts.
Submission Methods: The methods for submitting comments—online, fax, mail, and hand delivery—could potentially be streamlined to emphasize online submission, catering to modern communication practices. This could enhance public participation by simplifying the process.
Scope of Feedback: The document does not extensively clarify the specific types of feedback being sought, which might lead to ambiguity about what participants should focus on in their responses.
Perceived Impact of Feedback: The language used to describe the expected outcomes seems to downplay the potential usefulness of the feedback. Statements indicating that feedback will not be used to substantially inform policy decisions could lead to perceptions that public input is not impactful.
Unclear Influence on Service Improvements: The document does not provide clear evidence of how feedback will be used to directly influence service improvements, which may leave participants uncertain about the tangible benefits of their involvement.
Impact on the Public and Stakeholders
For the general public and stakeholders, this initiative presents an opportunity to voice their opinions and share experiences with FMCSA services, potentially influencing how these services are delivered. However, the technical nature of the document might deter participation among those not well-versed in bureaucratic language or procedures. Additionally, with the current focus on qualitative feedback that isn't intended to influence major policy changes, stakeholders may question the ultimate significance of their contributions.
Positive or Negative Impact
The potential positive impact of this initiative lies in FMCSA's openness to public input, which aligns with efforts to enhance governmental transparency and accountability. For specific stakeholders, such as commercial motor vehicle industry players, advocacy groups, and researchers, this initiative offers a platform for providing insights that align with their perspectives and needs, albeit without assurance of policy influence.
Conversely, if stakeholders perceive their feedback as merely a formality, without any significant impact on decision-making or policy shaping, this could result in cynicism towards the feedback process. Moreover, without more explicit connections between feedback collected and service improvements made, stakeholders might feel disengaged from the process.
Overall, while FMCSA's initiative represents a step towards improved service delivery, its success will largely depend on how effectively the agency navigates the concerns raised and communicates the value of public participation in shaping their services.
Issues
• The document uses technical terms and references to specific legal codes (e.g., Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, OMB Control Number, 49 CFR 1.87) that may not be clear to non-experts.
• The method for submitting comments includes several options (online, fax, mail, hand delivery) which could be streamlined for easier public participation, possibly over-emphasizing traditional methods.
• The document does not extensively explain the specific types of qualitative feedback being sought, potentially leading to ambiguity about the feedback's scope and nature.
• The language used to describe the expected outcomes ('not designed or expected to yield statistically reliable results') may be seen as downplaying the usefulness of the feedback collected.
• The document mentions that information will not be used for substantially informing influential policy decisions, which might lead to the perception that the feedback is not as impactful as it could be.
• There is a concern that the document doesn't clarify how the feedback will directly influence changes or improvements in agency service delivery, leaving the impact of public participation uncertain.