But even more important than the 2010 census’ ever-increasing price tag is the potential impact on the accuracy of the count, which is used to determine everything from Congressional representation to the allocation of federal broadband grants. Experts and observers have warned that the Bureau’s frequent changes to the process and inability to harness technology effectively could make this year’s census less accurate than the 2000 count. Such a step backwards would also be unprecedented.
Aside from updating the public on the status of the Bureau’s tech troubles, Groves also said he can’t imagine a 2020 count that doesn’t involve an internet response method, though he has no idea what that method would look like. He also supports a bill from Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., that would make the Census director a five-year, term-limited position.