[United States Government Manual]
[September 15, 2009]
[Pages 410-415]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20580
Phone, 202-326-2222. Internet, www.ftc.gov.
CHAIRMAN                                          Jonathan Leibowitz
Commissioners                                     Pamela Jones Harbour, 
                                                          William E. 
                                                          Kovacic, J. 
                                                          Thomas Rosch, 
                                                          (vacancy)
Chief of Staff                                    Joni Lupovitz
Executive Director                                Charles Schneider
Chief Information Officer                         Stanley Lowe
Chief Financial Officer                           Steven Fisher
Director, Bureau of Competition                   Rich Feinstein
Director, Bureau of Consumer Protection           David Vladeck
Director, Bureau of Economics                     Joe Farrell

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General Counsel                                   David C. Shonka, 
                                                          Acting
Director, Office of Congressional Relations       Jeanne Bumpus
Director, Office of International Affairs         Randolph W. Tritell
Director, Office of Public Affairs                Claudia Farrell, 
                                                          Acting
Director, Office of Policy Planning               Susan DeSanti
Secretary of the Commission                       Donald S. Clark
Chief Administrative Law Judge                    D. Michael Chappell
Inspector General                                 John Seeba

[For the Federal Trade Commission statement of organization, see the 
        Code of Federal Regulations, Title 16, Part 0]

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The Federal Trade Commission has jurisdiction to enhance consumer 
welfare and protect competition in broad sectors of the economy. The 
Commission enforces the laws that prohibit business practices that are 
anticompetitive, deceptive, or unfair to consumers; promotes informed 
consumer choice and public understanding of the competitive process; and 
seeks to accomplish its mission without impeding legitimate business 
activity.

The Federal Trade Commission was established in 1914 by the Federal 
Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41-58). The Commission is composed of 
five members appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of 
the Senate, for a term of 7 years. Not more than three of the 
Commissioners may be members of the same political party. One 
Commissioner is designated by the President as Chairman of the 
Commission and is responsible for its administrative management.

Activities

The Commission's principal functions include the following:
    --promoting competition through the prevention of general trade 
restraints such as price-fixing agreements, boycotts, illegal 
combinations of competitors, and other unfair methods of competition;
    --stopping corporate mergers, acquisitions, or joint ventures that 
may substantially lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly;
    --preventing pricing discrimination, exclusive dealing, tying 
arrangements, and discrimination among competing customers by sellers;
    --preventing interlocking directorates or officers' positions that 
may restrain competition;
    --preventing the dissemination of false or deceptive advertisements 
of consumer products and services as well as other unfair or deceptive 
practices;
    --promoting electronic commerce by stopping fraud on the Internet 
and working with other domestic and foreign agencies to develop and 
promote policies to safeguard online privacy of personal information;
    --protecting the privacy of consumers' personal information to 
prevent illegal or unwanted use of financial or other data;
    --stopping various fraudulent telemarketing schemes and protecting 
consumers from abusive, deceptive, or unwanted telephone tactics; and 
enforcing the National Do Not Call Registry;
    --ensuring truthful labeling of textile, wool, and fur products;
    --requiring creditors to disclose in writing certain cost 
information, such as the annual percentage rate, before consumers enter 
into credit transactions, as required by the Truth in Lending Act;
    --protecting consumers against circulation of inaccurate or obsolete 
credit reports and ensuring that credit bureaus, consumer reporting 
agencies, credit grantors, and bill collectors exercise their 
responsibilities in a manner that is fair and equitable;
    --educating consumers and businesses about their rights and 
responsibilities under Commission rules and regulations; and
    --gathering factual data concerning economic and business conditions 
and 


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making it available to the Congress, the President, and the public.
Competition  One of the two major missions of the Commission is to 
encourage competition in the American economy. The Commission seeks to 
prevent unfair practices that undermine competition and attempts to 
prevent mergers or acquisitions of companies if the result may be to 
lessen competition. Under some circumstances, companies planning to 
merge must first give notice to the Commission and the Department of 
Justice's Antitrust Division and provide certain information concerning 
the operations of the companies involved.
    The Commission also enforces the provisions of the Robinson-Patman 
Act, a part of the Clayton Act prohibiting companies from discriminating 
among their customers in terms of price or other services provided.
Consumer Protection  Consumer protection is the second of the two main 
missions of the Commission. The Commission, therefore, works to 
accomplish the following:
    --increase the usefulness of advertising by ensuring that it is 
truthful and not misleading;
    --reduce instances of fraudulent, deceptive, or unfair marketing 
practices;
    --prevent creditors from using unlawful practices when granting 
credit, maintaining credit information, collecting debts, and operating 
credit systems; and
    --educate the public about Commission activities.
    The Commission initiates investigations in areas of concern to 
consumers. It has issued and enforces many trade regulation rules in 
areas important to consumers, including health and nutrition claims in 
advertising; environmental advertising and labeling; general advertising 
issues; health care, telemarketing and electronic commerce, business 
opportunity, and franchise and investment fraud; mortgage lending and 
discrimination; enforcement of Commission orders; and enforcement of 
credit statutes and trade regulation rules.
Competition and Consumer Advocacy  To promote competition, consumer 
protection, and the efficient allocation of resources, the Commission 
also advocates consumer interest in a competitive marketplace by 
encouraging courts, legislatures, and government administrative bodies 
to consider efficiency and consumer welfare as important elements in 
their deliberations. The Commission uses these opportunities to support 
procompetitive means of regulating the Nation's economy, including the 
elimination of anticompetitive restrictions that reduce the welfare of 
consumers and the implementation of regulatory programs that protect the 
public and preserve as much as possible the discipline of competitive 
markets.
Compliance Activities  Through systematic and continuous review, the 
Commission obtains and maintains compliance with its cease-and-desist 
orders. All respondents against whom such orders have been issued are 
required to file reports with the Commission to substantiate their 
compliance. In the event compliance is not obtained, or if the order is 
subsequently violated, civil penalty proceedings may be instituted.
Cooperative Procedures  In carrying out the statutory directive to 
prevent unfair methods of competition or unfair or deceptive practices, 
the Commission makes extensive use of voluntary and cooperative 
procedures. Through these procedures, business and industry may obtain 
authoritative guidance and a substantial measure of certainty as to what 
they may do under the laws administered by the Commission.
    The Commission issues administrative interpretations in plain 
language of laws enforced by the Commission. Guides provide the basis 
for voluntary abandonment of unlawful practices by members of a 
particular industry or by an industry in general. Failure to comply with 
the guides may result in corrective action by the Commission under 
applicable statutory provisions.
Enforcement  The Commission's law enforcement work falls into two 
general categories: actions to foster voluntary compliance with the law, 
and formal

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administrative or Federal court litigation leading to mandatory orders 
against offenders.
    Compliance with the law may be obtained through voluntary and 
cooperative action by private companies in response to nonbinding staff 
advice, formal advisory opinions by the Commission, and guides and 
policy statements delineating legal requirements as to particular 
business practices.
    Formal litigation is instituted either by issuing an administrative 
complaint or by filing a Federal district court complaint charging a 
person, partnership, or corporation with violating one or more of the 
statutes administered by the Commission. If the charges in an 
administrative matter are not contested or if the charges are found to 
be true after an administrative hearing in a contested case, an order 
may be issued requiring discontinuance of the unlawful practices.
Investigations  Investigations by the Commission may originate through 
complaint by a consumer or a competitor, the Congress, or from Federal, 
State, or municipal agencies. Also, the Commission itself may initiate 
an investigation into possible violations of the laws it administers. No 
formality is required in submitting a complaint. A letter or call giving 
the facts in detail, accompanied by all supporting evidence in 
possession of the complaining party, is sufficient. The Commission also 
maintains electronic complaint systems that are accessible through its 
Web site. It is the general policy of the Commission not to disclose the 
identity of any complainant, except as required by law or Commission 
rules.
    Upon receipt of a complaint, various criteria are applied in 
determining whether the particular matter should be investigated.
    An order issued after an administrative proceeding that requires the 
respondent to cease and desist or take other corrective action may be 
appealed. Appeals processes may go as far as the Supreme Court.
    In addition to or in lieu of the administrative proceeding initiated 
by a formal complaint, the Commission may request that a U.S. district 
court issue a preliminary or permanent injunction to halt the use of 
allegedly unfair or deceptive practices, to prevent an anticompetitive 
merger or unfair methods of competition from taking place, or to prevent 
violations of any statute enforced by the Commission.
Reports  The Commission prepares studies of conditions and problems 
affecting the marketplace. Such reports may be used to inform 
legislative proposals in response to requests of the Congress and 
statutory directions, or for the information and guidance of the 
Commission, the executive branch of the Government, and the public. Such 
reports have provided the basis for significant legislation and have 
also led to voluntary changes in the conduct of business, with resulting 
benefits to the public.

                                   Regional Offices--Federal Trade Commission
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                Region                                     Address                              Director
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
East Central (DC, DE, MD, MI, OH, PA,   Suite 200, 1111 Superior Ave., Cleveland, OH   John Mendenhall
 VA, WV)                                 44114
Midwest (IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MN, MO,    Suite 1860, 55 E. Monroe St., Chicago, IL      C. Steven Baker
 ND, NE, SD, WI)                         60603
Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, RI,  Suite 318, One Bowling Green, New York, NY     Leonard Gordon
 VT, PR, VI)                             10004
Northwest (AK, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY)      Suite 2896, 915 2d Ave., Seattle, WA 98174     Charles A. Harwood
Southeast (AL, FL, GA, MS, NC, SC, TN)  Suite 1500, 225 Peachtree St. NE., Atlanta,    Bradley Elbein
                                         GA 30303
Southwest (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX)          Suite 2150, 1999 Bryan St., Dallas, TX 75201   Deanya T. Kueckelhan
Western (AZ, CA, CO, HI, NV, UT)        Suite 570, 901 Market St., San Francisco, CA   Jeffrey A. Klurfeld
                                         94103
                                        Suite 700, 10877 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles,
                                         CA 90024
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Sources of Information

Contracts and Procurement  Persons seeking to do business with the 
Federal Trade Commission should contact the Assistant Chief Financial 
Officer for Acquisitions, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC 
20580. Phone, 202-326-2339. Fax, 202-326-3529. Internet, www.ftc.gov.
Employment  Civil service registers are used in filling positions for 
economists, accountants, investigators, and other professional, 
administrative, and clerical personnel. The Federal Trade Commission 
employs a sizable number of attorneys under the excepted appointment 
procedure. All employment inquiries should be directed to the Director 
of Human Resources Management, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC 
20580. Phone, 202-326-2021. Fax, 202-326-2328. Internet, www.ftc.gov.
General Inquiries  Persons desiring information on consumer protection 
or restraint of trade questions, or to register a complaint, should 
contact the Federal Trade Commission (phone, 202-326-2222 or 877-382-
4357) or the nearest regional office. Complaints may also be filed on 
the Internet at www.ftc.gov.

Publications  Consumer and business education publications of the 
Commission are available through the Consumer Response Center, Federal 
Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20580. Phone, 877-382-4357. TTY, 866-
653-4261. Internet, www.ftc.gov.

For further information, contact the Office of Public Affairs, Federal 
Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20580. 
Phone, 202-326-2180. Fax, 202-326-3366. Internet, www.ftc.gov.

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