Federal Trade Commission 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

As part of its ongoing systematic review of all Federal Trade Commission rules and guides, the Commission gives notice that, during 2007, it intends to request public comments on the rules and guides listed below. The Commission will request comments on, among other things, the economic impact of, and the continuing need for, the rules and guides; possible conflict between the rules and guides and state, local, or other federal laws or regulations; and the effect on the rules and guides of any technological, economic, or other industry changes. No Commission determination on the need for or the substance of the rules and guides should be inferred from the notice of intent to publish requests for comments. In addition, the Commission announces a revised 10-year regulatory review schedule.

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 directs the Commission to issue labeling requirements for the electricity used by ceiling fans to circulate air. The Commission is publishing amendments to the Appliance Labeling Rule that establish energy labeling requirements for these products.

The FTC is planning to host a public workshop that will analyze the marketing of offers of goods and services with negative option features. The workshop will address the pros and cons of such offers, discuss online marketing of such offers, and explore ways to make effective disclosures in online advertising of such offers.

The information collection requirements described below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (``PRA''). The Federal Trade Commission (``FTC'' or ``Commission'') is seeking public comments on its proposal to extend through April 30, 2010 the current OMB clearance for information collection requirements contained in its Contact Lens Rule (``Rule''). That clearance expires on April 30, 2007.

The consent agreement in this matter settles alleged violations of federal law prohibiting unfair or deceptive acts or practices or unfair methods of competition. The attached Analysis to Aid Public Comment describes both the allegations in the draft complaint and the terms of the consent orderembodied in the consent agreementthat would settle these allegations.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is providing notice to its employees, former employees, and applicants for Federal employment about the rights and remedies available to them under the Federal antidiscrimination, whistleblower protection, and retaliation laws. This notice fulfills the FTC's initial notification obligation under the Notification and Federal Employees Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act (No FEAR Act), as implemented by Office of Personnel Management (OPM) regulations at 5 CFR part 724.

The consent agreement in this matter settles alleged violations of federal law prohibiting unfair or deceptive acts or practices or unfair methods of competition. The attached Analysis to Aid Public Comment describes both the allegations in the draft complaint and the terms of the consent orderembodied in the consent agreementthat would settle these allegations.

The consent agreement in this matter settles alleged violations of federal law prohibiting unfair or deceptive acts or practices or unfair methods of competition. The attached Analysis to Aid Public Comment describes both the allegations in the draft complaint and the terms of the consent orderembodied in the consent agreementthat would settle these allegations.

The consent agreement in this matter settles alleged violations of federal law prohibiting unfair or deceptive acts or practices or unfair methods of competition. The attached Analysis to Aid Public Comment describes both the allegations in the draft complaint and the terms of the consent orderembodied in the consent agreementthat would settle these allegations.

The FTC is soliciting public comments on proposed information requests to food and beverage companies and quick service restaurants. These comments will be considered before the FTC submits a request for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) review under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520, of compulsory process orders to major food and beverage manufacturers and quick service restaurant companies in order to obtain information from those companies concerning, among other things, their marketing activities and expenditures targeted toward children and adolescents.

The consent agreements in these matters settle alleged violations of federal law prohibiting unfair or deceptive acts or practices or unfair methods of competition. The attached Analysis to Aid Public Comment describes both the allegations in the draft complaints and the terms of the consent ordersembodied in the consent agreementsthat would settle these allegations.

The information collection requirements described below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (``PRA'') (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520). The Federal Trade Commission (``FTC'' or ``Commission'') is seeking public comments on its proposal to extend through January 31, 2010 the current OMB clearance for information collection requirements contained in its Mail or Telephone Order Merchandise Trade Regulation Rule (``MTOR'' or ``Rule''), 16 CFR part 435. That clearance expires on January 31, 2007.

The consent agreement in this matter settles alleged violations of Federal law prohibiting unfair or deceptive acts or practices or unfair methods of competition. The attached Analysis to Aid Public Comment describes both the allegations in the draft complaint and the terms of the consent orderembodied in the consent agreementthat would settle these allegations.

In this document, the Federal Trade Commission (``FTC'' or ``Commission'') announces decisions on four issues involving the Telemarketing Sales Rule (``TSR''): the denial of a petition submitted by Voice Mail Broadcasting Corporation (``VMBC'') requesting creation of a new safe harbor for the TSR that would permit the use of prerecorded messages in calls to established customers; a new proposal to amend the TSR by expressly prohibiting unsolicited prerecorded telemarketing calls without the consumer's prior written agreement; revocation of the Commission's previously announced policy of forbearance from bringing enforcement actions against sellers and telemarketers who make prerecorded telemarketing calls to established customers effective January 2, 2007; and a new proposal to amend the prescribed method for measuring the maximum allowable call abandonment rate in the TSR's existing safe harbor provision, in response to a petition from the Direct Marketing Association, Inc. (``DMA''). The Commission is requesting public comment on the proposed amendments during a comment period ending November 6, 2006.

Notice is hereby given of the appointment of members to the FTC Performance Review Board.

In accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the OCC, the Board, the FDIC, the OTS, the NCUA, and the FTC (Agencies) may not conduct or sponsor, and the respondent is not required to respond to, an information collection unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. Pursuant to section 214(e) of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (FACT Act or Act), the Agencies are requesting public comment on a proposed information collection concerning the ``Survey of Information Sharing Practices with Affiliates'' (Survey).

The consent agreement in this matter settles alleged violations of Federal law prohibiting unfair or deceptive acts or practices or unfair methods of competition. The attached Analysis to Aid Public Comment describes both the allegations in the draft complaint and the terms of the consent orderembodied in the consent agreementthat would settle these allegations.

In a Federal Register notice published on April 12, 2006, 71 FR 19054, the FTC requested comment on its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in connection with the Business Opportunity Rule. The Notice required that comments be submitted on or before June 16, 2006, and rebuttal comments be submitted on or before July 7, 2006. On June 1, 2006, 71 FR 31124, the Commission extended the comment period to July 17, 2006, and the rebuttal comment period until August 7, 2006. In response to a request received on July 24, 2006, the Commission has extended the rebuttal comment period until September 29, 2006.

The Federal Trade Commission (the ``Commission'' or ``FTC'') is issuing this Final Rule to amend section 310.8 (``the Final Amended Fee Rule'') of the FTC's Telemarketing Sales Rule (``TSR'') by revising the fees charged to entities accessing the National Do Not Call Registry (``the Registry'').

The consent agreement in this matter settles alleged violations of Federal law prohibiting unfair or deceptive acts or practices or unfair methods of competition. The attached Analysis to Aid Public Comment describes both the allegations in the draft complaint and the terms of the consent orderembodied in the consent agreementthat would settle these allegations.

The consent agreement in this matter settles alleged violations of Federal law prohibiting unfair or deceptive acts or practices or unfair methods of competition. The attached Analysis to Aid Public Comment describes both the allegations in the draft complaint and the terms of the consent orderembodied in the consent agreementthat would settle these allegations.

The Federal Trade Commission (``FTC'' or ``Commission'') requests public comment on the overall costs, benefits, and regulatory and economic impact of its rule specifying Test Procedures and Labeling Standards for Recycled Oil (``Recycled Oil Rule'' or ``Rule''), as part of the Commission's systematic review of all current FTC rules and guides.