Overview
Title
Intent To Request Extension From OMB of One Current Public Collection of Information: Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The TSA wants feedback from people about how well they are doing their job, like how quick and polite they are, by asking a short survey. They're asking the public to comment on this survey, which will help them understand what people think about their service and try to get better at it.
Summary AI
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA), under the Department of Homeland Security, has announced a 60-day public comment period for an information collection request, which they plan to submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. This request pertains to a survey aimed at gathering feedback from customers and stakeholders to improve service delivery. The collection is low-burden, voluntary, and focuses on feedback regarding the timeliness, accuracy, courtesy, and efficiency of TSA services. They estimate about 7 million responses annually, with each survey taking 10 to 30 minutes to complete.
Abstract
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) invites public comment on one currently approved Information Collection Request (ICR), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number 1652-0058, that we will submit to OMB for an extension in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. The information collection activity provides a means to gather qualitative customer and stakeholder feedback in an efficient, timely manner, in accordance with the Administration's commitment to improving service delivery.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which is part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), seeks public feedback on a proposed information collection request. This request is intended to gather qualitative feedback from customers and stakeholders about TSA's service delivery. The comment period is open for 60 days and aims to enhance service quality by focusing on areas such as the timeliness, accuracy, courtesy, and efficiency of TSA services. TSA estimates that around 7 million responses will be collected annually, with each taking between 10 to 30 minutes to complete.
Summary of the Document
In essence, the TSA is requesting permission to renew a survey aimed at collecting qualitative feedback from individuals who interact with its services. The objective is to improve service delivery by considering stakeholder opinions and perceptions. This feedback mechanism is designed to provide TSA with insights into potential issues and areas for improvement, particularly in communication, training, and operational changes. The request emphasizes that participation is voluntary and seeks input from those with experience or expected experience with TSA services in the future.
Significant Issues and Concerns
Several notable issues arise from this document. First, while the document specifies the overall burden in terms of hours respondents might spend on the survey, it lacks details about specific spending or costs associated with the process. This absence of information might make it challenging for stakeholders to assess the financial efficiency of the undertaking.
Moreover, while the document mentions the collection of qualitative feedback, it does not clearly outline metrics or benchmarks for evaluating how this feedback will result in tangible improvements in TSA services. This lack of clarity might lead to skepticism about the effectiveness of the survey in bringing about meaningful changes.
The language used throughout the document could also pose a barrier to understanding for the general public. Terms such as "information collection request," "OMB control number," and "Paperwork Reduction Act" might not be easily understood by all stakeholders.
There is also a broad estimated time range for completing the survey (10 to 30 minutes), which makes it difficult to accurately predict the actual burden on respondents. The difference between the minimum and maximum times can affect how individuals and organizations perceive the time commitment required.
Impact on the Public
For the general public, the primary impact comes from the opportunity to provide feedback directly to a federal agency that impacts millions of travelers. If the TSA listens to, and acts upon, the feedback collected, the overall experience of individuals using TSA services could improve, particularly in the areas highlighted as focus points in the survey. However, without clear communication on how this feedback will be used, the public might question the effectiveness and purpose of participating.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Specific stakeholders, such as frequent travelers, state and local governments, law enforcement entities, and businesses involved in the travel industry, might find themselves particularly impacted by this initiative. For these groups, the survey serves as a platform to voice operational concerns and suggest enhancements directly to the TSA. Successfully addressing feedback from these stakeholders could lead to improved collaboration, more efficient service delivery, and enhanced communication between the TSA and these entities.
However, if the survey does not lead to noticeable changes, there could be frustration among stakeholders who took the time to participate, believing that their efforts did not lead to the anticipated outcomes.
In conclusion, while the survey offers several potential benefits by enabling rich feedback collection from those engaging with TSA services, the document lacks specificity in certain areas. It places an emphasis on gathering inputs but fails to thoroughly explain how these inputs will be translated into service improvements, leaving room for uncertainty about the ultimate impact of the initiative.
Issues
• The document does not detail specific spending amounts; it only provides the overall burden hours and types of respondents, making it difficult to gauge if spending might be wasteful.
• The document mentions qualitative feedback collection but does not specify any measures for evaluating the effectiveness of these collections in improving TSA services.
• The language used is somewhat technical, with terms like 'information collection request,' 'OMB control number,' and 'Paperwork Reduction Act,' which may not be easily understood by the general public.
• The document lacks a clear explanation of how the feedback specifically contributes to changes or improvements in service delivery, leading to potential ambiguity about the actionability of the feedback collected.
• The estimated response time range (10 to 30 minutes) is quite broad, making it challenging to accurately assess the burden on respondents.