[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 64 (Wednesday, April 3, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 15767]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-8016]


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FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

16 CFR Part 310


Telemarketing Sales Rule; Notice of 15-Day Extension in Comment 
Period

AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Trade Commission (``the Commission'' or ``FTC'') 
has extended the comment period by which comments must be submitted 
concerning the proposed changes to its Telemarketing Sales Rule (``the 
Rule'' or ``TSR''). This document informs prospective commenters of the 
change and sets a new date of April 15, 2002, for the end of the 
comment period.\1\
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    \1\ This document was received at the Office of the Federal 
Register on March 29, 2002.

DATES: Written comments will be received until the close of business on 
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April 15, 2002.

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 
Sales Rule Review--Comment. FTC File No. R411001.''
    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 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 
Protection, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20580.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 30, 2002, the Commission 
published a request for comment on proposed changes to its 
Telemarketing Sales Rule.\2\ 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 to be called again; and sets payment restrictions for 
the sale of certain goods and services. The comment period for proposed 
changes to the TSR is currently scheduled to close on March 29, 2002.
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    \2\ 67 FR 4492 (January 30, 2002).
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    Several stakeholders that participated in the original rulemaking 
proceeding, in the rule review public workshop, and in the public forum 
focusing on the Rule's do-not-call provision have expressed concern 
that there will not be sufficient time before March 29 to complete 
their responses to the Commission's Request for Comment on the proposed 
amendments. They have asked that the comment period be extended to 
enable them 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.
    Therefore, the Commission has decided to extend the comment period 
to April 15, 2002. 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 proposed changes to the 
TSR's provisions, but the Commission has determined to also extend the 
date by which applications to participate in the forum must be 
received. Accordingly, the public forum will be held, as originally 
scheduled, on June 5-7, 2002, and notification of interest in 
participating in the forum must be submitted in writing, but separate 
from public comments, on or before April 15, 2002, to Carole I. 
Danielson, Division of Marketing Practices, Federal Trade Commission, 
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20580.

List of Subjects in 16 CFR Part 310

    Telemarketing, Trade practices.

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

    By direction of the Commission.
Donald S. Clark,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 02-8016 Filed 4-2-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6750-01-M