Private Vocational and Distance Education Schools, 37973-37975 [E9-18194]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 145 / Thursday, July 30, 2009 / Proposed Rules adequately available for public viewing and comment. Because the regulatory evaluation contains information regarding the expected benefits and costs of this rulemaking, the FAA has determined that a 60-day extension of the comment period is necessary to give the public adequate time to review this document. Such action is, in the public interest, and good cause exists for taking this action. Accordingly, the comment period for Notice No. 09–02 is extended until September 28, 2009. Issued in Washington, DC, on July 27, 2009. Julie A. Lynch, Acting Director, Office of Rulemaking. [FR Doc. E9–18322 Filed 7–29–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–13–P FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION 16 CFR Part 254 Private Vocational and Distance Education Schools Federal Trade Commission (‘‘FTC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’). ACTION: Request for public comments. AGENCY: erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with PROPOSALS-1 SUMMARY: As part of the Commission’s systematic review of all current FTC rules and guides, the Commission requests public comment on the overall costs, benefits, necessity, and regulatory and economic impact of the FTC’s guides for ‘‘Private Vocational and Distance Education Schools’’ (‘‘Vocational School Guides’’ or ‘‘Guides’’). DATES: Written comments must be received by October 16, 2009. ADDRESSES: Interested parties are invited to submit written comments electronically or in paper form. Comments should refer to ‘‘Vocational School Guides Review, Matter No. P097701’’ to facilitate the organization of comments. Please note that your comment – including your name and your state – will be placed on the public record of this proceeding, including on the publicly accessible FTC Website, at (https://www.ftc.gov/os/ publiccomments.shtm). Because comments will be made public, they should not include any sensitive personal information, such as an individual’s Social Security Number; date of birth; driver’s license number or other state identification number, or foreign country equivalent; passport number; financial account number; or credit or debit card number. Comments also should not include any sensitive health information, such as medical VerDate Nov<24>2008 14:58 Jul 29, 2009 Jkt 217001 records or other individually identifiable health information. In addition, comments should not include any ‘‘[t]rade secret or any commercial or financial information which is obtained from any person and which is privileged or confidential . . .’’ as provided in Section 6(f) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (‘‘FTC Act’’), 15 U.S.C. 46(f), and FTC Rule 4.10(a)(2), 16 CFR 4.10(a)(2). Comments containing material for which confidential treatment is requested must be filed in paper form, must be clearly labeled ‘‘Confidential,’’ and must comply with FTC Rule 4.9(c), 16 CFR 4.9(c).1 Because paper mail addressed to the FTC is subject to delay due to heightened security screening, please consider submitting your comments in electronic form. Comments filed in electronic form should be submitted by using the following weblink: (https:// secure.commentworks.com/ftcVocationalSchoolGuides), and following the instructions on the web-based form. To ensure that the Commission considers an electronic comment, you must file it on the web-based form at the weblink (https:// secure.commentworks.com/ftcVocationalSchoolGuides). If this Notice appears at (https://www.regulations.gov/ search/index.jsp), you may also file an electronic comment through that website. The Commission will consider all comments that regulations.gov forwards to it. You may also visit the FTC Website at (https://www.ftc.gov) to read the Notice and the news release describing it. A comment filed in paper form should include the ‘‘Vocational School Guides Review, Matter No. P097701’’ reference both in the text and on the envelope, and should be mailed or delivered to the following address: Federal Trade Commission, Office of the Secretary, Room H-135 (Annex V), 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580. The FTC is requesting that any comment filed in paper form be sent by courier or overnight service, if possible, because U.S. postal mail in the Washington area and at the Commission is subject to delay due to heightened security precautions. The FTC Act and other laws the Commission administers permit the collection of public comments to 1The comment must be accompanied by an explicit request for confidential treatment, including the factual and legal basis for the request, and must identify the specific portions of the comment to be withheld from the public record. The request will be granted or denied by the Commission’s General Counsel, consistent with applicable law and the public interest. See FTC Rule 4.9(c), 16 CFR 4.9(c). PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 37973 consider and use in this proceeding as appropriate. The Commission will consider all timely and responsive public comments that it receives, whether filed in paper or electronic form. Comments received will be available to the public on the FTC Website, to the extent practicable, at (https://www.ftc.gov/os/ publiccomments.shtm). As a matter of discretion, the Commission makes every effort to remove home contact information for individuals from the public comments it receives before placing those comments on the FTC Website. More information, including routine uses permitted by the Privacy Act, may be found in the FTC’s privacy policy, at (https://www.ftc.gov/ftc/ privacy.shtm). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie A. Lady, (216) 263-3409, Staff Attorney, East Central Region, Federal Trade Commission, 1111 Superior Avenue, Suite 200, Cleveland, Ohio 44114. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background The Vocational School Guides are intended to advise proprietary businesses offering vocational training courses, either on the school’s premises or through distance education, how to avoid unfair or deceptive practices in connection with the advertising, promotion, marketing, or sale of their courses or programs. The Commission promulgated the Guides (then titled the ‘‘Guides for Private Vocational and Home Study Schools’’) in May 1972. The guides became effective on August 14, 1972. (37 FR 9665 (May 16, 1972)). The Commission amended the Guides effective October 9, 1998. These amendments added a provision addressing misrepresentations related to post-graduation employment. In order to streamline the Guides, certain provisions not specific to vocational schools and a section suggesting affirmative disclosures were deleted.2 (62 FR 19703 (Aug. 10, 1998) as amended at 63 FR 72350 (Dec. 31, 1998)). The Vocational School Guides address misrepresentations in the description of a school including misrepresentations that the school is affiliated with the government or is an employment agency. The Guides also address misleading representations related to the accreditation and approval 2The deleted affirmative disclosures included the school’s make-up work policy, costs of purchasing the textbooks and equipment needed for the courses, a description of the school’s physical facilities and a description of the school’s placement service. E:\FR\FM\30JYP1.SGM 30JYP1 37974 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 145 / Thursday, July 30, 2009 / Proposed Rules of the school, the transferability of credit received at the school to other institutions, and the use of testimonials and endorsements. Schools are cautioned against misrepresenting the qualifications of teachers, the nature of the courses, the availability of employment after graduation, the availability of financial assistance, and enrollment qualifications. Also addressed is the use of deceptive diplomas or certificates. Finally, the Guides warn against using deceptive sales practices such as using classified ads that appear to be ‘‘help-wanted’’ ads. These Guides, like other industry guides issued by the Commission, are ‘‘administrative interpretations of laws administered by the Commission for the guidance of the public in conducting its affairs in conformity with legal requirements.’’ 16 CFR 1.5. Conduct inconsistent with the Guides may result in corrective action by the Commission under applicable statutory provisions. II. Regulatory Review Program The Commission reviews all current Commission rules and guides periodically. These reviews seek information about the costs and benefits of the Commission’s rules and guides as well as their regulatory and economic impact. The information obtained assists the Commission in identifying rules and guides that warrant modification or rescission. Therefore, the Commission solicits comments on, among other things, the economic impact of, and the continuing need for the Vocational School Guides; the benefits of the Guides to purchasers of vocational education; and the burdens the Guides place on businesses. erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with PROPOSALS-1 III. Request for Comment The Commission solicits comments on the following specific questions related to the Vocational School Guides: (1) Is there a continuing need for the Guides as currently promulgated? Why or why not? (2) What benefits have the Guides provided to consumers? What evidence supports the asserted benefits? (3) What modifications, if any, should the Commission make to the Guides to increase their benefits to consumers? (a) What evidence supports your proposed modifications? (b) How would these modifications affect the costs and benefits of the Guides for consumers? (c) How would these modifications affect the costs and benefits of the Guides for businesses, particularly small businesses? VerDate Nov<24>2008 14:58 Jul 29, 2009 Jkt 217001 (4) Should the Guides define ‘‘clearly and conspicuously,’’ given the guidance that industry members should make certain disclosures clearly and conspicuously? If so, why, and how? If not, why not? (5) What impact have the Guides had on the flow of truthful information to consumers and on the flow of deceptive information to consumers? What evidence supports the asserted impact? (6) What significant costs have the Guides imposed on consumers? What evidence supports the asserted costs? (7) What modifications, if any, should be made to the Guides to reduce the costs imposed on consumers? (a) What evidence supports your proposed modifications? (b) How would these modifications affect the costs and benefits of the Guides for consumers? (c) How would these modifications affect the costs and benefits of the Guides for businesses, particularly small businesses? (8) Please provide any evidence that has become available since 1998 concerning consumer perception of or experience with private vocational and distance education schools. Does this new information indicate that the Guides should be modified? If so, why, and how? If not, why not? (9) What benefits, if any, have the Guides provided to businesses, and in particular to small businesses? What evidence supports the asserted benefits? (10) What modifications, if any, should be made to the Guides to increase their benefits to businesses, and particularly to small businesses? (a) What evidence supports your proposed modifications? (b) How would these modifications affect the costs and benefits of the Guides for consumers? (c) How would these modifications affect the costs and benefits of the Guides for businesses, particularly small businesses? (11) What significant costs, including costs of compliance, have the Guides imposed on businesses, particularly small businesses? What evidence supports the asserted costs? (12) What modifications, if any, should be made to the Guides to reduce the costs imposed on businesses, and particularly on small businesses? (a) What evidence supports your proposed modifications? (b) How would these modifications affect the costs and benefits of the Guides for consumers? (c) How would these modifications affect the costs and benefits of the Guides for businesses, particularly small businesses? PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 (13) What evidence is available concerning the degree of industry compliance with the Guides? Does this evidence indicate that the Guides should be modified? If so, why, and how? If not, why not? (14) Is any of the guidance provided in the Guides no longer needed? If so, explain. Please provide supporting evidence. (15) What potentially unfair or deceptive practices involving the advertising and promotional claims used by vocational and distance education schools in the advertising, promotion, marketing, and sale of courses or programs of instruction offered by private vocational or distance education schools, if any, are not covered or are not adequately covered by the Guides? (a) What evidence demonstrates the existence of such practices? Please provide specific examples and indicate how and where such potentially unfair or deceptive practices occur. (b) With reference to such practices, should the Guides be modified? If so, why, and how? If not, why not? (16) What modifications, if any, should be made to the Guides to account for changes in relevant technology or economic conditions? (a) What evidence supports the proposed modifications? (b) How would these modifications affect the costs and benefits of the Guides for consumers and businesses, particularly small businesses? (17) Do the Guides overlap or conflict with other federal, state, or local laws or regulations? If so, how? (a) What evidence supports the asserted conflicts? (b) With reference to the asserted conflicts, should the Guides be modified? If so, why, and how? If not, why not? (c) Is there evidence concerning whether the Guides have assisted in promoting national consistency with respect to the advertising and promotional claims used by vocational and distance education schools to recruit students? If so, please provide that evidence. (18) Are there foreign or international laws, regulations, or standards with respect to the advertising and promotional claims used by vocational and distance education schools to recruit students that the Commission should consider as it reviews the Guides? If so, what are they? (a) Should the Guides be modified in order to harmonize with these foreign or international laws, regulations, or standards? If so, why, and how? If not, why not? E:\FR\FM\30JYP1.SGM 30JYP1 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 145 / Thursday, July 30, 2009 / Proposed Rules (b) How would such harmonization affect the costs and benefits of the Guides for consumers and businesses, particularly small businesses? List of Subjects in 16 CFR Part 254 Advertising, Trade practices. Authority: 38 Stat. 717, as amended; 15 U.S.C. 41-58. By direction of the Commission. Donald S. Clark, Secretary [FR Doc. E9–18194 Filed 7–29–09: 9:56 am] BILLING CODE: 6750–01–S DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 18 CFR Part 284 [Docket No. RM08–2–000] Pipeline Posting Requirements Under Section 23 of the Natural Gas Act; Order Requesting Supplemental Comments Issued July 16, 2009. AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Order Requesting Supplemental Comments. SUMMARY: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) seeks supplemental comments regarding potential revisions to the posting requirements adopted in Order No. 720 of the Commission’s regulations. DATES: Comments are due August 31, 2009. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Ellsworth (Technical), Office of Enforcement, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, (202) 502–8228. Gabriel Sterling (Legal), Office of Enforcement, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, (202) 502–8891. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with PROPOSALS-1 Before Commissioners: Jon Wellinghoff, Chairman; Suedeen G. Kelly, Marc Spitzer, and Philip D. Moeller. Pipeline Posting Requirements Under Section 23 of the Natural Gas Act; Order Requesting Supplemental Comments 1. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is seeking supplemental comments in regard to the posting requirements adopted in Order VerDate Nov<24>2008 14:58 Jul 29, 2009 Jkt 217001 No. 720 and codified in § 284.14(a) of the Commission’s regulations,1 in response to limited issues raised in requests for rehearing of Order No. 720 2 and at the staff technical conference held in this docket on March 18, 2009.3 In particular, we seek comment on specific regulatory text relevant to arguments received on rehearing of Order No. 720. Comments should be submitted within 30 days of publication of this order in the Federal Register. I. Background 2. In Order No. 720, the Commission adopted new regulations requiring major non-interstate pipelines to post certain data on publicly-accessible Internet Web sites. 4 Order No. 720 implemented the Commission’s authority under section 23 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA),5 as added by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005).6 The order required major noninterstate pipelines, defined as those natural gas pipelines that are not natural gas companies under the NGA and deliver more than 50 million MMBtu per year, to post scheduled flow information and to post information for each receipt or delivery point with a design capacity greater than 15,000 MMBtu per day.7 3. While Order No. 720 required major non-interstate pipelines to comply with the new rules within 150 days of the rule’s publication,8 a subsequent order in this docket extended the compliance deadline for major non-interstate pipelines until 150 days following the issuance of an order on rehearing.9 A staff technical conference was held on March 18, 2009, to gather additional information on certain issues raised on rehearing.10 CFR 284.14(a). Posting Requirements under Section 23 of the Natural Gas Act, Order No. 720, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,283 (2008). The Commission is not requesting additional comments regarding 18 CFR 284.14(b) which was also added by Order No. 720. 3 See Notice of Technical Conference, Docket No. RM08–2–000 (issued Feb. 24, 2009). 4 Additionally, the Commission adopted regulations requiring interstate pipelines to post information regarding no-notice service. Order No. 720 at P 1. These regulations are in effect and interstate pipelines must be in compliance with this requirement. 5 Section 23 of the Natural Gas Act; 15 U.S.C. 717t 2 (2000 & Supp. V 2005). 6 Energy Policy Act of 2005, Public Law No. 109– 58, sections 1261 et seq., 119 Stat. 594 (2005). 7 Order No. 720 at P 1. 8 Id. P 168. 9 Pipeline Posting Requirements under Section 23 of the Natural Gas Act, 126 FERC ¶ 61,047, at P 4 (2009). 10 See Notice of Technical Conference, Docket No. RM08–2–001 (issued Feb. 24, 2009); Notice of Agenda for Technical Conference, Docket No. RM08–2–001 (issued March 11, 2009). PO 00000 1 18 2 Pipeline Frm 00021 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 37975 4. Among other changes to the Commission’s regulations, Order No. 720 adopted new § 284.14(a) identifying the data that major non-interstate pipelines must post. This section provides that information must be posted by major non-interstate pipelines for each receipt or delivery point with a design capacity greater than or equal to 15,000 MMBtu/day. The Commission stated in Order No. 720, that, ‘‘In the circumstance where the design capacity of a receipt or delivery point could vary according to operational or usage conditions, a major non-interstate pipeline must post the design capacity for the most common operating conditions of its system during peak periods.’’ 11 Section 284.14(a) provides that the following information be posted regarding each applicable receipt or delivery point: Transportation Service Provider Name, Posting Date, Posting Time, Nomination Cycle, Location Name, Additional Location Information if Needed to Distinguish Between Points, Location Purpose Description (Receipt, Delivery, or Bilateral), Design Capacity, Scheduled Volume, Available Capacity, and Measurement Unit (Dth, MMBtu, or MCf). II. Requests for Rehearing and Technical Conference Comments 5. The Commission received 24 requests for rehearing, clarification, or both of Order No. 720. Additionally, the Commission publicly noticed and held a staff technical conference on March 18, 2009, to gather additional information with respect to: (1) The definition of major non-interstate pipelines; (2) what constitutes ‘‘scheduling’’ for a receipt or delivery point; and, (3) how the 15,000 MMBtu per day design capacity threshold should be applied.12 6. Certain rehearing requests questioned how § 284.14(a) of the Commission’s regulations applies to major non-interstate pipelines that operate with virtual or pooling points instead of, or in addition to, physical metered points.13 Texas Pipeline Association (TPA) proposed modifications to § 284.14(a) requiring 11 Order No. 720 at P 92. of Technical Conference, Docket No. RM08–2–001 (issued Feb. 24, 2009). 13 Requests for rehearing, clarification, or both filed by the following participants raise this question: American Gas Association, Atmos Pipeline, Nicor Gas Company, ONEOK Gas Transportation, LLC, and ONEOK WesTex Transmission, LLC 12 Notice E:\FR\FM\30JYP1.SGM 30JYP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 145 (Thursday, July 30, 2009)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 37973-37975]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-18194]


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FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

16 CFR Part 254


Private Vocational and Distance Education Schools

AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission (``FTC'' or ``Commission'').

ACTION: Request for public comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: As part of the Commission's systematic review of all current 
FTC rules and guides, the Commission requests public comment on the 
overall costs, benefits, necessity, and regulatory and economic impact 
of the FTC's guides for ``Private Vocational and Distance Education 
Schools'' (``Vocational School Guides'' or ``Guides'').

DATES: Written comments must be received by October 16, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties are invited to submit written comments 
electronically or in paper form. Comments should refer to ``Vocational 
School Guides Review, Matter No. P097701'' to facilitate the 
organization of comments. Please note that your comment - including 
your name and your state - will be placed on the public record of this 
proceeding, including on the publicly accessible FTC Website, at 
(https://www.ftc.gov/os/publiccomments.shtm).
    Because comments will be made public, they should not include any 
sensitive personal information, such as an individual's Social Security 
Number; date of birth; driver's license number or other state 
identification number, or foreign country equivalent; passport number; 
financial account number; or credit or debit card number. Comments also 
should not include any sensitive health information, such as medical 
records or other individually identifiable health information. In 
addition, comments should not include any ``[t]rade secret or any 
commercial or financial information which is obtained from any person 
and which is privileged or confidential . . .'' as provided in Section 
6(f) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (``FTC Act''), 15 U.S.C. 
46(f), and FTC Rule 4.10(a)(2), 16 CFR 4.10(a)(2). Comments containing 
material for which confidential treatment is requested must be filed in 
paper form, must be clearly labeled ``Confidential,'' and must comply 
with FTC Rule 4.9(c), 16 CFR 4.9(c).\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\The comment must be accompanied by an explicit request for 
confidential treatment, including the factual and legal basis for 
the request, and must identify the specific portions of the comment 
to be withheld from the public record. The request will be granted 
or denied by the Commission's General Counsel, consistent with 
applicable law and the public interest. See FTC Rule 4.9(c), 16 CFR 
4.9(c).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Because paper mail addressed to the FTC is subject to delay due to 
heightened security screening, please consider submitting your comments 
in electronic form. Comments filed in electronic form should be 
submitted by using the following weblink: (https://secure.commentworks.com/ftc-VocationalSchoolGuides), and following the 
instructions on the web-based form. To ensure that the Commission 
considers an electronic comment, you must file it on the web-based form 
at the weblink (https://secure.commentworks.com/ftc-VocationalSchoolGuides). If this Notice appears at (https://www.regulations.gov/search/index.jsp), you may also file an electronic 
comment through that website. The Commission will consider all comments 
that regulations.gov forwards to it. You may also visit the FTC Website 
at (https://www.ftc.gov) to read the Notice and the news release 
describing it.
    A comment filed in paper form should include the ``Vocational 
School Guides Review, Matter No. P097701'' reference both in the text 
and on the envelope, and should be mailed or delivered to the following 
address: Federal Trade Commission, Office of the Secretary, Room H-135 
(Annex V), 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580. The FTC 
is requesting that any comment filed in paper form be sent by courier 
or overnight service, if possible, because U.S. postal mail in the 
Washington area and at the Commission is subject to delay due to 
heightened security precautions.
    The FTC Act and other laws the Commission administers permit the 
collection of public comments to consider and use in this proceeding as 
appropriate. The Commission will consider all timely and responsive 
public comments that it receives, whether filed in paper or electronic 
form. Comments received will be available to the public on the FTC 
Website, to the extent practicable, at (https://www.ftc.gov/os/publiccomments.shtm). As a matter of discretion, the Commission makes 
every effort to remove home contact information for individuals from 
the public comments it receives before placing those comments on the 
FTC Website. More information, including routine uses permitted by the 
Privacy Act, may be found in the FTC's privacy policy, at (https://www.ftc.gov/ftc/privacy.shtm).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie A. Lady, (216) 263-3409, Staff 
Attorney, East Central Region, Federal Trade Commission, 1111 Superior 
Avenue, Suite 200, Cleveland, Ohio 44114.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Vocational School Guides are intended to advise proprietary 
businesses offering vocational training courses, either on the school's 
premises or through distance education, how to avoid unfair or 
deceptive practices in connection with the advertising, promotion, 
marketing, or sale of their courses or programs. The Commission 
promulgated the Guides (then titled the ``Guides for Private Vocational 
and Home Study Schools'') in May 1972. The guides became effective on 
August 14, 1972. (37 FR 9665 (May 16, 1972)). The Commission amended 
the Guides effective October 9, 1998. These amendments added a 
provision addressing misrepresentations related to post-graduation 
employment. In order to streamline the Guides, certain provisions not 
specific to vocational schools and a section suggesting affirmative 
disclosures were deleted.\2\ (62 FR 19703 (Aug. 10, 1998) as amended at 
63 FR 72350 (Dec. 31, 1998)).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\The deleted affirmative disclosures included the school's 
make-up work policy, costs of purchasing the textbooks and equipment 
needed for the courses, a description of the school's physical 
facilities and a description of the school's placement service.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Vocational School Guides address misrepresentations in the 
description of a school including misrepresentations that the school is 
affiliated with the government or is an employment agency. The Guides 
also address misleading representations related to the accreditation 
and approval

[[Page 37974]]

of the school, the transferability of credit received at the school to 
other institutions, and the use of testimonials and endorsements. 
Schools are cautioned against misrepresenting the qualifications of 
teachers, the nature of the courses, the availability of employment 
after graduation, the availability of financial assistance, and 
enrollment qualifications. Also addressed is the use of deceptive 
diplomas or certificates. Finally, the Guides warn against using 
deceptive sales practices such as using classified ads that appear to 
be ``help-wanted'' ads.
    These Guides, like other industry guides issued by the Commission, 
are ``administrative interpretations of laws administered by the 
Commission for the guidance of the public in conducting its affairs in 
conformity with legal requirements.'' 16 CFR 1.5. Conduct inconsistent 
with the Guides may result in corrective action by the Commission under 
applicable statutory provisions.

II. Regulatory Review Program

    The Commission reviews all current Commission rules and guides 
periodically. These reviews seek information about the costs and 
benefits of the Commission's rules and guides as well as their 
regulatory and economic impact. The information obtained assists the 
Commission in identifying rules and guides that warrant modification or 
rescission. Therefore, the Commission solicits comments on, among other 
things, the economic impact of, and the continuing need for the 
Vocational School Guides; the benefits of the Guides to purchasers of 
vocational education; and the burdens the Guides place on businesses.

III. Request for Comment

    The Commission solicits comments on the following specific 
questions related to the Vocational School Guides:
    (1) Is there a continuing need for the Guides as currently 
promulgated? Why or why not?
    (2) What benefits have the Guides provided to consumers? What 
evidence supports the asserted benefits?
    (3) What modifications, if any, should the Commission make to the 
Guides to increase their benefits to consumers?
    (a) What evidence supports your proposed modifications?
    (b) How would these modifications affect the costs and benefits of 
the Guides for consumers?
    (c) How would these modifications affect the costs and benefits of 
the Guides for businesses, particularly small businesses?
    (4) Should the Guides define ``clearly and conspicuously,'' given 
the guidance that industry members should make certain disclosures 
clearly and conspicuously? If so, why, and how? If not, why not?
    (5) What impact have the Guides had on the flow of truthful 
information to consumers and on the flow of deceptive information to 
consumers? What evidence supports the asserted impact?
    (6) What significant costs have the Guides imposed on consumers? 
What evidence supports the asserted costs?
    (7) What modifications, if any, should be made to the Guides to 
reduce the costs imposed on consumers?
    (a) What evidence supports your proposed modifications?
    (b) How would these modifications affect the costs and benefits of 
the Guides for consumers?
    (c) How would these modifications affect the costs and benefits of 
the Guides for businesses, particularly small businesses?
    (8) Please provide any evidence that has become available since 
1998 concerning consumer perception of or experience with private 
vocational and distance education schools. Does this new information 
indicate that the Guides should be modified? If so, why, and how? If 
not, why not?
    (9) What benefits, if any, have the Guides provided to businesses, 
and in particular to small businesses? What evidence supports the 
asserted benefits?
    (10) What modifications, if any, should be made to the Guides to 
increase their benefits to businesses, and particularly to small 
businesses?
    (a) What evidence supports your proposed modifications?
    (b) How would these modifications affect the costs and benefits of 
the Guides for consumers?
    (c) How would these modifications affect the costs and benefits of 
the Guides for businesses, particularly small businesses?
    (11) What significant costs, including costs of compliance, have 
the Guides imposed on businesses, particularly small businesses? What 
evidence supports the asserted costs?
    (12) What modifications, if any, should be made to the Guides to 
reduce the costs imposed on businesses, and particularly on small 
businesses?
    (a) What evidence supports your proposed modifications?
    (b) How would these modifications affect the costs and benefits of 
the Guides for consumers?
    (c) How would these modifications affect the costs and benefits of 
the Guides for businesses, particularly small businesses?
    (13) What evidence is available concerning the degree of industry 
compliance with the Guides? Does this evidence indicate that the Guides 
should be modified? If so, why, and how? If not, why not?
    (14) Is any of the guidance provided in the Guides no longer 
needed? If so, explain. Please provide supporting evidence.
    (15) What potentially unfair or deceptive practices involving the 
advertising and promotional claims used by vocational and distance 
education schools in the advertising, promotion, marketing, and sale of 
courses or programs of instruction offered by private vocational or 
distance education schools, if any, are not covered or are not 
adequately covered by the Guides?
    (a) What evidence demonstrates the existence of such practices? 
Please provide specific examples and indicate how and where such 
potentially unfair or deceptive practices occur.
    (b) With reference to such practices, should the Guides be 
modified? If so, why, and how? If not, why not?
    (16) What modifications, if any, should be made to the Guides to 
account for changes in relevant technology or economic conditions?
    (a) What evidence supports the proposed modifications?
    (b) How would these modifications affect the costs and benefits of 
the Guides for consumers and businesses, particularly small businesses?
    (17) Do the Guides overlap or conflict with other federal, state, 
or local laws or regulations? If so, how?
    (a) What evidence supports the asserted conflicts?
    (b) With reference to the asserted conflicts, should the Guides be 
modified? If so, why, and how? If not, why not?
    (c) Is there evidence concerning whether the Guides have assisted 
in promoting national consistency with respect to the advertising and 
promotional claims used by vocational and distance education schools to 
recruit students? If so, please provide that evidence.
    (18) Are there foreign or international laws, regulations, or 
standards with respect to the advertising and promotional claims used 
by vocational and distance education schools to recruit students that 
the Commission should consider as it reviews the Guides? If so, what 
are they?
    (a) Should the Guides be modified in order to harmonize with these 
foreign or international laws, regulations, or standards? If so, why, 
and how? If not, why not?

[[Page 37975]]

    (b) How would such harmonization affect the costs and benefits of 
the Guides for consumers and businesses, particularly small businesses?

List of Subjects in 16 CFR Part 254

    Advertising, Trade practices.

    Authority: 38 Stat. 717, as amended; 15 U.S.C. 41-58.
    By direction of the Commission.

Donald S. Clark,
Secretary
[FR Doc. E9-18194 Filed 7-29-09: 9:56 am]
BILLING CODE: 6750-01-S
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