[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 127 (Friday, July 2, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 35965-35966]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-16767]


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FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

16 CFR Part 453


Extension of Time for Comments Concerning Trade Regulation Rule 
on Funeral Industry Practices

AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission.

ACTION: Notice of extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Trade Commission (``the Commission'' or ``FTC'') 
has extended the date by which comments must be submitted concerning 
the review of its Trade Regulation Rule on Funeral Industry Practices 
(``Funeral Rule''). This document informs prospective comments of the 
change and sets a new date of August 11, 1999, for the end of the 
comment period.

DATES: Written comments will be accepted until the close of business on 
August 11, 1999. Notification of interest in participating in the 
public workshop must be submitted separately on or before August 11, 
1999.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be identified as ``16 CFR part 453'' 
and submitted to: Secretary, Federal Trade Commission, Room H-159, 600 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20580. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for future details.
    All comments will be placed on the public record and will be 
available for public inspection in accordance with the Freedom of 
Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552, and the Commission's Rules of Practice, 
16 CFR 4.11, during normal business days from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 
the Public Reference Room, Room 130, Federal Trade Commission, 600 
Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. Washington, DC 20580. In addition, comments 
will be posted ont he Internet at the FTC's web site: ``www.ftc.gov.''
    Notification on interest in participating in the Public Workshop-
Conference should be submitted in writing on or before August 11, 1999, 
to Myra Howard, Division of Marketing Practices, Federal Trade 
Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20580.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Myra Howard, (202) 326-2047, or 
Mercedes Kelley, (202) 326-3665, Division of Marketing Practices, 
Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 
20580.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 5, 1999, the Commission published in 
the Federal Register a Request for Comment on its Funeral Industry 
Practices Rule (``Funeral Rule'' or ``Rule''), 16 CFR part 453, as part 
of its regulatory review program. 64 FR 24250. The Funeral Rule details 
a number of unfair and deceptive practices relating to providers of 
funeral goods and services, and sets forth preventive requirements in 
the form of price and information disclosures to ensure the funeral 
providers avoid engaging in the enumerated unfair or deceptive acts or 
practices. The Federal Register notice (``notice'') posed thirty 
questions in all; some were general regulatory review questions, while 
others asked about material issues that are specific to the Funeral 
Rule and the funeral industry. The notice requested commenters to 
provide answers where possible, and specifically asked for data, 
surveys and empirical evidence to support comments submitted to the 
Commission. Pursuant to the Federal Register notice, the comment period 
currently ends on July 12, 1999.
    Between June 11, 1999, and June 16, 1999, staff have received 
requests for a modest extension of the comment period from four 
separate organizations representing a variety of viewpoints on the 
Rule--the National Funeral Directors Association (``NFDA''), the 
American Association of Retired Persons (``AARP''), the Funeral and 
Memorial Societies of America, Inc. (``FAMSA''), and the Monument 
Builders of North America (``MBNA''). The parties indicated that 
additional time was required to prepare thorough, thoughtful responses 
to the questions contained in the Federal Register notice.
    The Commission is mindful of the need to deal with this matter as 
expeditiously as possible. However, the Commission is also aware that 
some of the issues raised by the Federal Register notice are rather 
complex, and it welcomes as much substantive input as possible to 
facilitate its decisionmaking process. Accordingly, in order to provide 
sufficient time for these and other interested parties to prepare 
useful comments, the Commission has decided to extend the deadline for 
comments by thirty (30) days, until August 11, 1999.

Additional Comment Information

    The Commission requests that commenters submit the original plus 
five copies, if feasible. To enable prompt review and public access, 
all written comments should also be submitted, if possible, in 
electronic form. To submit

[[Page 35966]]

in electronic form, provide the comment on either a 5\1/4\'' or a 3\1/
2\'' computer disk. The disk should be labeled with the commenter's 
name and the name and version of the word processing program used to 
create the document. (Programs based on DOS or Windows are preferred. 
Files from other operating systems should be submitted in ASCII text 
format). Alternatively, the Commission will also accept comments 
submitted to the following E-Mail address: ``[email protected].'' 
Individual members of the public who will be filing comments need not 
submit multiple copies and need not submit their comments in electronic 
form.

List of Subjects in 16 CFR Part 453

    Funerals, Trade practices.

    By direction of the Commission.
Benjamin I. Berman,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-16767 Filed 7-1-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6750-01-M