Federal Trade Commission – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FTC published a document in the Federal Register on August 7, 2007, seeking public comments on its proposals to extend: (1) The current Paperwork Reduction Act clearance for the information collection requirements contained in the Commission's Rule Concerning Disclosure of Written Consumer Product Warranty Terms and Conditions through November 30, 2010; and (2) the current Paperwork Reduction Act clearances for the information collection requirements contained in the Commission's Rule Governing Pre-Sale Availability of Written Warranty Terms and the Informal Dispute Settlement Procedures Rule through December 31, 2010. The document contained an incorrect weblink for submitting electronic comments.

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. The FTC is seeking public comments on its proposal to extend through November 30, 2010 the current OMB clearance for the information collection requirements contained in the Commission's Rule Concerning Disclosure of Written Consumer Product Warranty Terms and Conditions. The clearance is scheduled to expire on November 30, 2007. The FTC is also seeking public comments on its proposal to extend through December 31, 2010 the current OMB clearances for the information collection requirements contained in the Commission's Rule Governing Pre-Sale Availability of Written Warranty Terms and the Informal Dispute Settlement Procedures Rule. Those clearances are scheduled to expire on December 31, 2007.

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. The Federal Trade Commission (``FTC'') is seeking public comments on its proposal to extend through November 30, 2010 the current OMB clearance for information collection requirements contained in its Prescreen Opt-Out Disclosure Rule. That clearance expires on November 30, 2007.

The Federal Trade Commission published a document in the Federal Register on May 23, 2007 (72 FR 28906) requesting public comments on the Commission's Guides for Select Leather and Imitation Leather Products (``Leather Guides''). Inadvertently, the ADDRESSES Block of the Federal Register Notice did not state that if the Notice appeared at https://www.regulations.gov, members of the public could file an electronic comment through that Web site, as well as by accessing the following Web site: https://secure.commentworks.com/ftc- leatherguides, and following the instructions on the web-based form.

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 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 FTC is adopting in final form a new routine use that permits disclosure of FTC records protected by the Privacy Act when reasonably necessary to respond and prevent, minimize, or remedy harm that may result from an agency data breach or compromise.

The Federal Trade Commission is amending Rule 4.11 of its Rules of Practice, which addresses disclosure requests, to add a new provision, Rule 4.11(j). The new provision conforms the agency's rules to its authority to share confidential information in non-antitrust matters with foreign law enforcers, with appropriate confidentiality assurances and subject to certain restrictions, as provided for under the recently-enacted U.S. SAFE WEB Act of 2006, Pub. L. No. 109-455, 120 Stat. 3372 (2006). The Commission is also amending Rules 4.10(d) and (e), which describe certain materials subject to prohibitions on disclosures and exceptions for specified circumstances, to cross- reference the new Rule 4.11(j).

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 July 31, 2010 the current OMB clearance for information collection requirements contained in its proposed Affiliate Marketing Rule (or ``proposed Rule''). That clearance expires on July 31, 2007.

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 Guide Concerning Fuel Economy Advertising for New Automobiles (``Fuel Economy Guide'' or ``Guide''). The Commission is also seeking comments on whether the Guide should be amended in light of recent amendments to the Environmental Protection Agency's (``EPA'') fuel economy labeling rules for new automobiles.

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.

On December 20, 2006, President Bush signed the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (``PAEA'' or the ``Act'') into law. Congress intended the PAEA to increase competition and efficiency in the provision of mail service. The Act requires the Federal Trade Commission (the ``Commission or ``FTC'') to prepare and submit to the President, Congress, and the Postal Regulatory Commission (``PRC'') a comprehensive report by December 20, 2007, identifying Federal and State laws that apply differently to the United States Postal Service (``USPS'') with respect to the competitive category of mail and to private companies providing similar products. To help prepare this report, the Commission is requesting public comment on several issues.

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'') (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520). The Federal Trade Commission (``FTC'' or ``Commission'') is seeking public comments on its proposal to extend through May 31, 2010 the current PRA clearance for information collection requirements contained its Antitrust Improvements Act Rules (``HSR Rules'') and corresponding Notification and Report Form for Certain Mergers and Acquisitions (``Notification and Report Form''), 16 CFR Parts 801-803. That clearance expires on May 31, 2007.

The Federal Trade Commission (the ``Commission'' or ``FTC'') amends its Trade Regulation Rule entitled ``Disclosure Requirements and Prohibitions Concerning Franchising and Business Opportunity Ventures'' (``Franchise Rule'' or ``Rule'') to streamline the Rule, minimize compliance costs, and to respond to changes in new technologies and market conditions in the offer and sale of franchises. Part 436 sets forth those amendments to the Franchise Rule pertaining to the offer and sale of franchises. Part 437 sets forth a revised form of the original Franchise Rule pertaining solely to the offer and sale of business opportunities. This document provides background on the Franchise Rule and this proceeding; discusses the public comments the Commission received; and describes the amendments the Commission is making based on the record. This document also contains the text of the final amended Rule and the Rule's Statement of Basis and Purpose (``SBP''), including a Regulatory Analysis.

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

The OCC, Board, FDIC, OTS, NCUA, FTC, CFTC, and SEC (the Agencies) are proposing amendments to their rules that implement the privacy provisions of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLB Act), Title V, Subtitle A. These rules require financial institutions to provide initial and annual privacy notices to their customers. As required under section 728 of the Financial Services Regulatory Relief Act of 2006 (Regulatory Relief Act or Act), the Agencies are proposing a safe harbor model privacy form that financial institutions may use to provide disclosures under the privacy rules. Institutions that use notices based on the Sample Clauses currently contained in most of the privacy rules would lose the benefit of a safe harbor for compliance with respect to those notices if they are provided more than one year following the date of publication of a final rule. Similarly, institutions that use notices based on the Sample Clauses in the SEC's privacy rule could no longer rely on the guidance provided with respect to those notices if they are provided more than one year following the date of publication of a final rule.

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 April 30, 2010 the current PRA clearance for information collection requirements contained in its Free Annual File Disclosures Rule (``Rule''). That clearance expires on April 30, 2007.

The Federal Trade Commission (``FTC'' or ``Commission'') is extending until June 18, 2007 the deadline for filing comments on the Guides and on two consumer surveys commissioned by the Commission concerning the interpretation of consumer endorsements.

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 Commission is updating the agency's description of its organization and activities in Part 0 of its Rules of Practice to include the Office of International Affairs.

The FTC and other participating agencies are planning to host a two-day public workshop to explore the role of authentication processes in preventing identity theft. The workshop will provide a forum for discussion among public sector, private sector, and consumer representatives about better ways to authenticate the identities of individuals.