Census Bureau hopes much of 2020 count will take place online

How will Americans use the Internet in 2020? Will we all use cellphones? Will we still have snail mail? Experts at the U.S. Census Bureau are asking those questions in preparation for the 2020 count, even as temporary workers are knocking on doors to complete the 2010 Census.

Final answers won't be needed for about eight years, but the team hopes to keep costs below the $14.7 billion budgeted for the 2010 Census and to make it possible for at least some Americans to answer questions via the Internet. "None of us can imagine doing a 2020 Census without an Internet option," Census Bureau Director Robert Groves said. Although he's overseeing the current census, most of his tenure will be tied to 2020 preparations -- and he's pushing for a more efficient operation with fewer people.