Markets Wired

Commission Submits FY 2010 Budget Request and GPRA Performance Plans to Congress

Budget request and GPRA Performance Plans submission to Congress: The Commission has approved the FTC’s FY 2010 Budget Overview Statement and the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) Performance Plans for FY 2009 and FY 2010. These documents are part of the FTC’s formal budget request that was submitted to Congress on May 7, 2009, in support of the President’s submission of the FY 2010 budget for the U.S. government. The Commission vote to submit the budget request and performance plans to Congress was 4-0. (FTC File No. P859900; the staff contact is James Baker, 202-326-3168.)

Commission Seeks Public Comments on Agency’s Negative Option Rule

The Commission is seeking public comment on its Rule Concerning the Use of Prenotification Negative Option Plans (Negative Option Rule), 16 C.F.R. Part 425, as part of the agency’s systematic review of its rules and guides. The Rule regulates one type of negative option marketing – so-called prenotification negative option plans for the delivery of merchandise. In this type of negative option marketing, consumers receive periodic announcements that merchandise will be delivered unless they decline the items within a set time.

The notice asks standard rule review questions, including whether there is a continuing need for the Rule, its benefits and costs, and what modifications, if any, should be made to account for changes in market-relevant technology or economic conditions. In addition, the notice solicits comments on whether the Commission should expand the Rule to address additional types of negative option marketing. The notice contains information about how the public can submit comments, which are due by July 27, 2009.

The Commission vote approving the Federal Register notice was 4-0. The notice is available now as a link to this press release on the Commission’s Web site, and will be published soon. (FTC File No. P064202; the staff contacts are Robin Rosen Spector, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 202-326-3740, and Matthew Wilshire, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 202-326-2976.)

Copies of the documents mentioned in this release are available from the FTC’s Web site at http://www.ftc.gov and from the FTC’s Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580. Call toll-free: 1-877-FTC-HELP.

(BudgetRequestFYI)