Federal Trade Commission 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FTC seeks public comments on proposed information requests by compulsory process to a combined ten or more of the largest cigarette manufacturers and smokeless tobacco manufacturers. The information sought would include, among other things, data on manufacturer annual sales and marketing expenditures. The current FTC clearance from the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') to conduct such information collection expires January 31, 2015. The Commission intends to ask OMB for renewed three-year clearance to collect this information.

The Commission requests public comment on its Telemarketing Sales Rule (``TSR'' or ``Rule''). The Commission is soliciting comments as part of the FTC's systematic review of all current Commission regulations and guides.

The consent agreements in this matter settle alleged violations of federal law prohibiting 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 Federal Trade Commission (``FTC'') announces an open source prize competition that challenges the public to create and improve an innovative robocall honeypot. A honeypot is an information system that is designed to attract perpetrators of illegal actsin this case robocallersand gain knowledge about their tactics. The Contest will be held at DEF CON 22, a conference of information security specialists, in Las Vegas, Nevada, from August 7-10, 2014. The Contest will occur in 3 independent phases, with Winner(s) chosen from each phase. Phase 1, ``Creator,'' involves building a robocall honeypot. Phase 2, ``Attacker,'' requires Contestants to identify a honeypot's security vulnerabilities. Phase 3, ``Detective,'' involves analysis of data from an existing robocall honeypot.

The consent agreement in this matter settles alleged violations of federal law prohibiting unfair or deceptive acts or practices. 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 (``Commission'') requests public comment on the overall costs and benefits, and regulatory and economic impact, of its Rules and Regulations Under the Hobby Protection Act (``Rules''), as part of the agency's regular review of all its regulations and guides.

The consent agreement in this matter settles alleged violations of federal law prohibiting unfair methods of competition. The attached Analysis of Agreement Containing Consent Order to Aid Public Comment describes both the allegations in the draft complaint and the terms of the consent orderembodied in the consent agreement that would settle these allegations.

As part of its regulatory review of the Energy Labeling Rule, the Federal Trade Commission proposes to expand coverage of the Lighting Facts label, change the current label categories for refrigerators, revise the ceiling fan label design, and require room air conditioner labels on packaging instead of the units themselves.

The Commission amends its rules and regulations under the Wool Products Labeling Act of 1939 (``Wool Rules'' or ``Rules'') to conform to the requirements of the Wool Suit Fabric Labeling Fairness and International Standards Conforming Act, which revised the labeling requirements for cashmere and certain other wool products, and align with the amended rules and regulations under the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act (``Textile Rules'').

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

The Federal Trade Commission amends its Regulations under the Fur Products Labeling Act to update the Fur Products Name Guide, provide more labeling flexibility, incorporate Truth in Fur Labeling Act provisions, and conform the guaranty provisions to those governing textiles. The Commission does not change the required name for nyctereutes procyonoides fur products. Labels will continue to describe this animal as ``Asiatic Raccoon.''

The information collection requirements in the FTC's Fuel Rating Rule will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (``PRA''). The FTC intends to ask OMB to extend for an additional three years the current PRA clearance for these information collection requirements. That clearance otherwise expires on May 31, 2014.

The Federal Trade Commission (``FTC'' or ``Commission'') resumes its regulatory review of the Guide Concerning Fuel Economy Advertising for New Automobiles (``Fuel Economy Guide'' or ``Guide''). The Commission seeks comments on potential amendments to update the Guide to reflect changes to the Environmental Protection Agency's (``EPA'') fuel economy labeling rules, address advertising for alternative fueled vehicles, and consider other advertising claims prevalent in the market.

The Commission is amending the Hart-Scott-Rodino (``HSR'') Premerger Notification Rules (the ``Rules''), and the Premerger Notification and Report Form and associated Instructions (``Form and Instructions'') to reflect the new address of the Commission's Premerger Notification Office (the ``PNO'').

The consent agreement in this matter settles alleged violations of federal law prohibiting unfair methods of competition. The attached Analysis of Agreement Containing Consent Orders to Aid Public Comment describes both the allegations in the complaint and the terms of the consent ordersembodied in the consent agreementthat would settle these allegations.

The consent agreement in this matter settles alleged violations of federal law prohibiting unfair methods of competition. The attached Analysis of Agreement Containing Consent Order to Aid Public Comment describes both the allegations in the draft complaint and the terms of the consent ordersembodied in the consent agreementthat would settle these allegations.

The Commission issues conforming amendments to the Energy Labeling Rule (``Rule'') to require a new Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for televisions and establish data reporting requirements for those products.

The Commission proposes amendments to its Rule for Automotive Fuel Ratings, Certification and Posting (``Fuel Rating Rule'' or ``Rule'') that would adopt and revise rating, certification, and labeling requirements for ethanol-gasoline blends and would allow an alternative octane rating method. The proposed amendments further the Rule's goal of helping purchasers identify the correct fuel for their vehicles.

The Federal Trade Commission is updating its regulations regarding fees for the provision of services in disseminating information and records to the public. The updates reflect changes in, and additions to, the types of services that the Federal Trade Commission provides, and account for changes in the costs of providing such services.

The Federal Trade Commission publishes this notice and request for public comment concerning proposed self-regulatory guidelines submitted by the Internet Keep Safe Coalition (``iKeepSafe''), under the safe harbor provision of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Rule.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the FTC is seeking public comments on its request to OMB for a three- year extension of the current PRA clearance for the information collection requirements contained in the Informal Dispute Settlement Procedures Rule. That clearance expires on March 31, 2014.