Federal Trade Commission September 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FTC proposes amending the Mail or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule (``MTOR'' or ``Rule'') to respond to the development of new technologies and changed commercial practices. By doing so, the Commission seeks to accomplish four objectives: clarify that the Rule covers all Internet merchandise orders regardless of whether the buyer accesses the Internet through a telephone line, allow sellers to provide refunds and refund notices to buyers by any means at least as fast and reliable as first class mail, clarify sellers' obligations under the Rule for sales made using payment methods not specifically enumerated in the Rule, and require sellers to process any third party credit card refund within seven working days of a buyer's right to a refund vesting. Additionally, the FTC sets forth its interpretation of ``demand drafts'' as the functional equivalents of checks for purposes of the Rule.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3521, the FTC is seeking public comments on its proposal to extend through October 31, 2014, the current PRA clearance for information collection requirements contained in its Trade Regulation Rule entitled Power Output Claims for Amplifiers Utilized in Home Entertainment Products (``Amplifier Rule'' or ``Rule''), 16 CFR part 432 (OMB Control Number 3084-0105). That clearance expires on October 31, 2011. The FTC will submit the collection of information abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review.

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 is seeking public comments on its proposal to extend through December 31, 2014, the current PRA clearance for information collection requirements contained in the Commission's Business Opportunity Rule (``Rule''). The current clearance expires on December 31, 2011.

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 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) is seeking public comments on its proposal to extend through December 31, 2014, the current OMB clearance for items (a)-(c) below setting out the information collection requirements pertaining to the Commission's administrative activities. That clearance expires on December 31, 2011, and consists of: (a) Applications to the Commission, including applications and notices contained in the Commission's Rules of Practice (primarily Parts I, II, and IV); (b) the FTC's consumer complaint systems; (c) the FTC's program evaluation activities and (d) the FTC's Applicant Background Form. The Commission is not seeking clearance renewal relating to item (d), the Applicant Background Form.