[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 112 (Thursday, June 10, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32549-32550]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-13081]


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FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION


Notice of Roundtable To Aid Federal Trade Commission Staff in 
Conducting a Study of the Accuracy and Completeness of Consumer 
Reports, Pursuant to Section 319 of the Fair and Accurate Credit 
Transactions Act of 2003

AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission.

ACTION: Notice of roundtable meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Trade Commission (the ``Commission'' or ``FTC'') 
is conducting a study of the accuracy and completeness of consumer 
reports, as mandated by section 319 of the Fair and Accurate Credit 
Transactions Act of 2003 (``the Act'' or ``FACT Act''). The 
Commission's Bureau of Economics is holding a roundtable with scholars, 
researchers, and other relevant parties on a review of methodologies 
pertinent to testing the accuracy and completeness of consumer reports.

DATES: The roundtable will take place on June 30, 2004.

ADDRESSES: The roundtable will be held at the Federal Trade Commission, 
601 New Jersey Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20580.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Persons seeking to attend the 
roundtable should contact Marie Tansioco at (202) 326-3613 (Federal 
Trade Commission, Bureau of Economics, 601 New Jersey Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20580) by June 18, 2004. Please include in your request 
an explanation or statement

[[Page 32550]]

setting forth expertise in or knowledge of methodologies pertinent to 
assessing the accuracy and completeness of consumer reports. As a 
reminder, the roundtable will not be dealing with policy matters.
    The FTC Act and other laws the Commission administers permit the 
collection of information concerning persons seeking to attend the 
roundtable to consider and use in this proceeding as appropriate. More 
information, including routine uses permitted by the Privacy Act to the 
extent applicable, may be found in the FTC's privacy policy, at http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/privacy.htm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FACT Act was signed into law on December 
4, 2003. Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003, Public Law 
108-159 (2003). In general, the Act amends the Fair Credit Reporting 
Act (``FCRA'') to enhance the accuracy of consumer reports and to allow 
consumers to exercise greater control regarding the type and amount of 
marketing solicitations they receive. To promote increasingly efficient 
national credit markets, the FACT Act also establishes uniform national 
standards in key areas of regulation regarding consumer report 
information. The Act contains a number of provisions intended to combat 
consumer fraud and related crimes, including identity theft, and to 
assist its victims. Finally, the Act requires a number of studies to be 
conducted on consumer reporting and related issues.
    Section 319 of the Act mandates that the Federal Trade Commission 
shall conduct an ongoing study of the accuracy and completeness of 
information contained in consumer reports prepared or maintained by 
consumer reporting agencies and methods for improving the accuracy and 
completeness of such information. The time horizon for the mandated 
study, inclusive of a series of biennial reports to Congress, runs 
eleven years. The first report is due in early December 2004.
    The roundtable has a limited purpose: it is a review of various 
methodologies pertinent to testing the accuracy and completeness of 
consumer reports (also known as ``credit reports''). This review is not 
part of any rule-making procedure and does not address any FTC policy 
matter. Also, in reference to the language of the Act, the roundtable 
discussion is solely a forum for review of methodologies applicable 
exclusively to the accuracy and completeness aspect of the section 319 
study and will not address methods for improving accuracy and 
completeness, nor the costs and benefits of requirements, or potential 
requirements, pertaining to credit reports.

    By direction of the Commission.
Donald S. Clark,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 04-13081 Filed 6-9-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6750-01-P