National Telecommunications and Information Administration--Gift Cards for Respondents to the Converter Box Coupon Program Survey

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) may use appropriated funds to purchase gift cards as an incentive to encourage individuals to complete and return a survey designed to gather information about NTIA's converter box coupon program. NTIA deems this information essential to the success of the $1.5 billion program. Although a gift card might otherwise be viewed as a personal expense, a direct connection exists between the use of the gift cards and the production of information important to the execution of NTIA's statutory duties. The amount of the expenditure is modest, and the primary beneficiary of the expenditure is the government.