Re: [CTPP] CTPP Update

Clara Reschovsky wrote: Ed, Thanks for the update on the webinars. Whatever happened with the DRB decisions from Census? -------------------> Clara, et al. What is going on with the Census Bureau's Disclosure Review Board (DRB)? Last January/February 2008, Jonette Kreideweis on behalf of AASHTO submitted a CTPP table list using the first 3 years of ACS responses. The DRB reviewed the list and said that all tables would have to be rounded and for all tables where means of transportation is shown and crossed with one or more variable, there must be at least 3 unweighted cases for each category within a given geographic area for the table to be shown. These rules were published in a March 12 memo by the Chair of the DRB. (http://trbcensus.com/drb/03122008.pdf). We examined data from Census 2000 to estimate the impacts of this new rule and discovered that around 82% of the places in the nation with more than 20,000 residents would have their data suppressed using 10 modes of transportation. Even when the modes of transportation were collapsed to 6 categories a significant number of areas would loose their data. The AASHTO Standing Committee on Planning, Census Data Work Group expressed its concern to the DRB in a letter dated May 2nd (http://trbcensus.com/drb/05022008.pdf). Then on May 12, a small group from the AASHTO Census Work Group met with the DRB to discuss our issues. Unfortunately our time was cut short due to a fire drill at the Census Bureau and we were informed of a formal appeal process. On June 2, 2008 a formal appeal to the Census Bureau Data Stewardship Executive Policy Committee (http://www.census.gov/privacy/files/related_information/003352.html) was filed by the Chair of the AASHTO Standing Committee on Planning outlining our concerns. The letter includes a list of reasons why we believe that the DRB decision is flawed, and why we believe that the design features of the ACS, coupled with existing Census disclosure proofing processes and the population dynamics of a 36 month data collection period offer more than enough protection for an individual's privacy when considering estimates for areas of 20,000 people or more. Here is the link to the appeal letter and supporting documents http://trbcensus.com/drb/appeal06022008.pdf. Subsequent to the appeal letter, there have been countless discussion within the community on what do and how to proceed. Some have suggesting scrapping the whole CTPP while others have suggested that the matter be brought to Congress and a GAO review be done. Suffice it to say that the CTPP team is working very hard to make sure our community is informed and we hope that some reasonable alternatives can be reached that will balance the risks of disclosure with the utility of the data. Stay tuned! -- Ed Christopher Resource Center Planning Team Federal Highway Administration 19900 Governors Drive Olympia Fields, Illinois 60461 708-283-3534 (V) 708-574-8131 (cell) 708-283-3501 (F)