[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 186 (Tuesday, September 27, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-23877]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: September 27, 1994]


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FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

 

Request For Comments Concerning a Study of Federal-State 
Cooperation

agency: Federal Trade Commission.

action: Request for public comments.

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summary: The Federal Trade Commission (the ``Commission'') is 
conducting a study mandated by Section 13 of the Federal Trade 
Commission Act Amendments of 1994, Public Law 103-312, which requires 
that the Commission review ``its statutory responsibilities to identify 
those matters within its jurisdiction where Federal enforcement is 
particularly necessary or desirable and those areas that might more 
effectively be enforced at the State or local level.'' The Commission 
requests public comment concerning these issues.

dates: Written comments will be accepted until October 27, 1994.

addresses: Comments should be directed to: Secretary, Federal Trade 
Commission, Room H-159, Sixth and Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, 
DC 20580.

for further information contact: Elaine D. Kolish, Assistant Director, 
Division of Enforcement, Bureau of Consumer Protection, (202) 326-3042, 
or Joan S. Greenbaum, Associate Director for Regions, Bureau of 
Competition, (202) 326-2629, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC 
20580.

supplementary information: The Federal Trade Commission Act Amendments 
of 1994 became law on August 26, 1994. Public Law 103-312, 108 Stat. 
1691. Section 13 directs the Commission, within six months of the 
bill's enactment, to transmit to the Committee on Commerce, Science and 
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
of the House of Representatives a report on Federal-State Cooperation. 
The report is ``to identify those matters within [The Commission's] 
jurisdiction where Federal enforcement is particularly necessary or 
desirable and those areas that might more effectively be enforced at 
the State or local level.'' In conducting this review, the Commission 
is directed to ``consider the resources available to the Commission and 
the States, as well as particular rules that have been promulgated by 
the Commission.'' In addition, the Commission must ``consider such 
other issues as will result in more efficient implementation of the 
statutory responsibilities of the Commission.''
    Section 13 directs the Commission to ``consult with the attorneys 
general of the States, representatives of consumers and industry, and 
other interested parties.'' The Commission is issuing this Notice to 
solicit written comments from interested members of the public on the 
issues described above. Because the report must be transmitted to 
Congress by February 27, 1995, the comment period is limited to 30 
days.
    Commission staff expects to hold informal meetings with persons and 
groups interested in the topics to be addressed in the report. All 
interested parties are nonetheless urged to file written comments, 
because the staff may not be able to accommodate all of the interested 
groups that wish to meet.
    Comments should focus on areas of the Commission's enforcement 
authority that might be implemented more effectively and efficiently by 
altering the present manner in which enforcement activity is shared 
between the Commission and State or local agencies. Specific areas of 
interest include enforcement allocations respecting trade regulation 
rules, deceptive marketing practices, deceptive advertising, consumer 
credit and debt collection practices, and anticompetitive conduct that 
primarily affects consumers within a particular State or local area 
versus conduct that has primarily regional or national impact. In any 
assessment of enforcement allocations in these areas, the impact on 
resources available to the Commission and the States to carry out their 
other law enforcement responsibilities should be considered. Comments 
should discuss the basis for any recommendations, and describe any 
statutory changes or changes in the Commission's rules that might be 
necessary to implement the recommendations. Comments directed to 
telemarketing practices should recognize that the statutory authority 
of both the Commission and the States has recently been affected by the 
Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act, Public Law 
103-297, 108 Stat. 1545 (Aug. 16, 1994).
    The Commission anticipates that both the range and the analysis of 
enforcement reallocation opportunities may differ with respect to the 
Commission's consumer protection and competition missions. Therefore, 
comments dealing specifically with the Commission's consumer protection 
responsibilities should be segregated from comments dealing with the 
Commission's maintaining competition responsibilities. Documents 
containing the former should be titled ``Consumer Protection Comment;'' 
those containing the latter should be titled ``Maintaining Competition 
Comment.''

    By Direction of the Commission.
Donald S. Clark,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-23877 Filed 9-26-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6750-01-M