Federal Trade Commission – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FTC intends to ask the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') to extend for an additional three years the current Paperwork Reduction Act (``PRA'') clearance for information collection requirements contained in its Trade Regulation Rule on Disclosure Requirements and Prohibitions Concerning Franchising (``Franchise Rule'' or ``Rule''). That clearance expires on December 31, 2014.

The Commission has completed its review of the Guides for the Rebuilt, Reconditioned and Other Used Automobile Parts Industry (Used Auto Parts Guides or Guides) and has determined to revise and retain the Guides.

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 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 FTC seeks public comments on its proposal to extend through September 30, 2017, the current PRA clearance for information collection requirements contained in the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Financial Privacy Rule (GLB Privacy Rule or Rule), 16 CFR Part 313. That clearance expires on September 30, 2014.

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 FTC intends to ask the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') to extend for an additional three years the current Paperwork Reduction Act (``PRA'') clearance for information collection requirements contained in its Funeral Industry Practice Rule (``Funeral Rule'' or ``Rule''). That clearance expires on September 30, 2014.

In an April 4, 2014 Federal Register Notice, the Federal Trade Commission (``Commission'') proposed amending its Fuel Rating Rule to provide revised rating, certification, and labeling requirements for blends of gasoline and more than 10 percent ethanol (``ethanol blends'') and an additional octane rating method for gasoline. The NPRM requested comments on the proposed amendments, and stated that comments must be received on or before June 2, 2014. In response to a request to extend the comment period received on May 20, 2014, the Commission is extending the comment period from June 2, 2014 to July 2, 2014.

The FTC intends to ask the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') to extend for an additional three years the current Paperwork Reduction Act (``PRA'') clearance for the FTC's enforcement of the information collection requirements in its ``Fair Credit Reporting Risk-Based Pricing Regulations'' (``RBP Rule''), which applies to certain motor vehicle dealers, and its shared enforcement with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (``CFPB'') of the risk-based pricing provisions (subpart H) of the CFPB's Regulation V regarding other entities. That clearance expires on August 31, 2014.

The consent agreements in these matters settle alleged violations of federal law prohibiting unfair methods of competition. The attached Analysis of Proposed Consent Orders 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 FTC proposes to collect information about Patent Assertion Entity (``PAE'') organization, structure, economic relationships, and activity, including acquisition, assertion, litigation, and licensing practices. This is the second of two Federal Register Notices required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (``PRA''). Last year, the FTC published a Federal Register Notice (``First Notice'') and received public comments on its proposal. Through this Second Notice, the Commission seeks additional public comments on, and Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') review and approval of, the revised proposed collection of information discussed in this Notice.

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 FTC plans to conduct a consumer study to examine fuel economy advertising. The study is part of the Commission's regulatory review of the Guide Concerning Fuel Economy Advertising for New Automobiles (``Fuel Economy Guide'' or ``Guide''). This is the first of two notices required under the Paperwork Reduction Act (``PRA'') in which the FTC seeks public comments on its proposed consumer research before requesting Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') review of, and clearance for, the collection of information discussed herein.

As part of a Federal Government-wide effort to streamline the process to seek feedback from the public on service delivery, the FTC is submitting a Generic Information Collection Request (Generic ICR): ``Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery'' to OMB for approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et. seq.).

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 draft complaint and the terms of the consent ordersembodied in the consent agreementthat would settle these allegations.

The Commission amends the rules and regulations under the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act (``Textile Rules'' or ``Rules'') to incorporate the updated International Organization for Standardization (``ISO'') standard 2076:2010(E); allow certain hang- tags that do not disclose the product's full fiber content; better address electronic commerce by amending the definition of the terms ``invoice'' and ``invoice or other paper''; update the guaranty provisions by, among other things, replacing the requirement that suppliers provide a guaranty signed under penalty of perjury with a certification, and revising the form used to file continuing guaranties with the Commission under the Textile, Fur, and Wool Acts accordingly; and clarify several other provisions.

The FTC plans to conduct a study to examine consumer perception of environmental marketing claims. This is the first of two notices required under the Paperwork Reduction Act (``PRA'') in which the FTC seeks public comments on its proposed research before requesting Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') review of, and clearance for, the collection of information discussed herein.

The Commission systematically reviews its rules and guides to ensure they continue to achieve their intended purpose without unduly burdening commerce. As part of this systematic review, the Commission requests public comment on the overall costs, benefits, necessity, and regulatory and economic impact of the FTC's Rules, Regulations, Statements of General Policy or Interpretation and Exemptions under the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (``FPLA'' or ``Act'').

The FTC intends to ask the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') to extend for an additional three years the current Paperwork Reduction Act (``PRA'') clearance for information collection requirements contained in its Funeral Industry Practice Rule (``Funeral Rule'' or ``Rule''). That clearance expires on September 30, 2014.

As part of its ongoing, systematic review of all Federal Trade Commission rules and guides, the Commission announces a modified ten- year regulatory review schedule. No Commission determination on the need for, or the substance of, the rules and guides listed below should be inferred from the notice of intent to publish requests for comments.

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 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 draft 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 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 (``FTC'' or ``Commission'') will hold a public workshop, ``Examining Health Care Competition,'' on March 20-21, 2014, to study certain activities and trends that may affect competition in the evolving health care industry. The workshop will explore current developments related to professional regulations; innovations in health care delivery; advancements in health care technology; measuring and assessing health care quality; and price transparency for health care services. This notice poses a series of questions upon which the FTC seeks public comment. The Commission will consider these comments as it prepares for the workshop and may use them in a subsequent report or policy paper.