[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 88 (Friday, May 5, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 26161]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-11314]



[[Page 26161]]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

16 CFR Part 310


Notice of 30-Day Extension in Comment Period in the Review of the 
Telemarketing Sales Rule

AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission.

ACTION: Rule review, notice of extension of comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Federal Trade Commission (``the Commission'' or ``FTC'') 
has extended the comment period by which comments must be submitted 
concerning the review of its Telemarketing Sales Rule (``the Rule'' or 
``TSR''). This document informs prospective commenters of the change 
and sets a new date of May 30, 2000, for the end of the comment period.

DATES: Written comments will be received until the close of business on 
May 30, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Six paper copies of each paper and/or written comment should 
be submitted to the Office of the Secretary, Federal Trade Commission, 
Room 159, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20580. If 
possible, comments should also be submitted in electronic form. To 
encourage prompt and efficient review and dissemination of the comments 
to the public, all comments should also be submitted, if possible, in 
electronic form, on either a 5\1/4\ or a 3\1/2\ inch computer disk, 
with a label on the disk stating the name of the commenter and the name 
and version of the word processing program used to create the document. 
(Programs based on DOS are preferred. Files from other operating 
systems should be submitted in ASCII text format to be accepted.) 
Individual members of the public filing comments need not submit 
multiple copies or comments in electronic form. Alternatively, the 
Commission will accept papers and comments submitted to the following 
email address: [email protected], provided the content of any papers or 
comments submitted by email is organized in sequentially numbered 
paragraphs. All submissions should be identified as ``Telemarketing 
Review--Comment. FTC File No. P994414.''
    Papers and written comments will be available for public inspection 
in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552, and 
Commission regulations, 16 CFR 4.9, on normal business days between the 
hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. in Room 130, Federal Trade Commission, 
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20580. The Commission will 
make this notice and, to the extent possible, all papers or comments 
received in response to this notice available to the public through the 
Internet at the following address: www.ftc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine Harrington-McBride (202) 
326-2452, email [email protected]; Karen Leonard (202) 326-3597, email 
[email protected]; or Carole Danielson (202) 326-3115, email 
[email protected], Division of Marketing Practices, Bureau of Consumer 
Products, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20580.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 28, 2000, the Commission 
published a request for comment on its Telemarketing Sales Rule.\1\ The 
Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act (``the 
Telemarketing Act'' or ``the Act'') directed the Commission to 
promulgate rules to protect consumers from deceptive telemarketing 
practices and other abusive telemarketing activities. In response to 
this directive, the Commission adopted the TSR, which requires 
telemarketers to make specific disclosures of material information; 
prohibits misrepresentations; sets limits on the times telemarketers 
may call consumers; prohibits calls to a consumer who has asked not be 
called again; and sets payment restrictions for the sale of certain 
goods and services. The comment period is currently scheduled to close 
on April 27, 2000.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 65 FR 10428 (February 28, 2000).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Several stakeholders that participated in the original rulemaking 
proceeding and in the recent public forum focusing on the Rule's do-
not-call provision have expressed concern that there will not be 
sufficient time before April 27 to complete their responses to the 
Commission's Request for Comment. They have asked that the comment 
period be extended to complete their data collection. The Commission is 
mindful of the need to deal with this matter expeditiously. However, 
the Commission also is aware that the issues raised are complex and 
believes that the enhancement of the record that will be achieved by 
extending the comment period far outweighs any harm that might be 
caused by the delay.
    Accordingly, the Commission has decided to extend the comment 
period to May 30, 2000. This extension will provide sufficient time for 
commenters to prepare useful comments. This extension will not affect 
the date of the public forum to discuss the TSR's provisions nor the 
date by which applications to participate in the forum must be 
received. The public forum will continue to be held on July 27-28, 
2000, and notification of interest in participating in the forum must 
be submitted in writing on or before June 16, 2000, to Carole I. 
Danielson, Division of Marketing Practices, Federal Trade Commission, 
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20580.

List of Subjects in 16 CFR 310

    Telemarketing, Trade practices.

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1601-1608.

    By direction of the Commission.
Donald S. Clark,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-11314 Filed 5-4-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6750-01-M