Search Results for agency_names:"Federal Trade Commission"

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has introduced a final rule called the Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees. This rule aims to prevent businesses from misleading consumers about the prices of live-event tickets and short-term lodging. It requires businesses to clearly disclose the total price that includes all mandatory fees, to avoid bait-and-switch tactics that hide the real cost. The rule also prohibits businesses from lying about the nature, purpose, amount, or refundability of these fees, ensuring that consumers have a true understanding of the cost before making a purchase.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is seeking public input on its plan to extend the current information collection requirements under the Alternative Fuels Rule for another three years. This initiative is done in line with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The Rule necessitates uniform labeling for alternative fuels and vehicles, helping consumers make informed choices. Comments must be sent by March 31, 2025, and more details on how to submit comments are available on the www.regulations.gov website.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has proposed a consent agreement involving E. & J. Gallo Winery and Constellation Brands to address potential antitrust issues from Gallo's acquisition of some Constellation assets. The agreement includes several actions to maintain competition, such as Constellation divesting some of its brands and maintaining certain others. These actions are intended to prevent reduced competition in markets for sparkling wine, brandy, port, sherry, and high color concentrates. The public can comment on this agreement until February 4, 2021.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is asking for a three-year extension from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the clearance of information collection requirements related to the Amplifier Rule, which concerns power output claims for amplifiers in home entertainment products. This clearance, initially expiring on January 31, 2021, helps standardize the measurement and disclosure of these products' features, aiding consumers in making informed purchases. The FTC invites public comments on this extension by February 22, 2021. The deadline extension aims to continue ensuring manufacturers provide consistent information about amplifiers, improving transparency and consumer trust.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has reached a proposed consent agreement with Tapjoy, Inc. to resolve allegations of deceitful practices in its mobile gaming advertising platform. The FTC claims Tapjoy misled consumers by promoting false offers of in-app rewards that were often not delivered, causing harm to both gamers and game developers. The proposed order requires Tapjoy to prevent such deceptive practices by ensuring accurate reward representations and providing a clear method for consumers to report issues. The Commission has invited public comments on this proposal until February 12, 2021.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has proposed a consent order to address alleged anticompetitive practices by the private equity firm Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe. The firm was accused of violating several federal laws by consolidating anesthesia services in Texas through its company, U.S. Anesthesia Partners, Inc., which led to increased prices. The proposed order seeks to limit Welsh Carson's influence over this company and requires them to obtain FTC approval for future acquisitions in anesthesia and related medical fields to prevent similar monopolistic behavior. The public has until March 20, 2025, to submit comments on this proposed consent order.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has proposed a consent agreement with Amazon regarding allegations of misappropriated driver tips through its Amazon Flex program. Between late 2016 and August 2019, Amazon allegedly withheld nearly a third of tips that customers intended for drivers, amounting to approximately $61 million, despite claiming to pass 100% of tips to drivers. The agreement requires Amazon to pay back the full amount withheld and prohibits the company from changing its tipping practices without driver consent. The proposal is open for public comments until March 12, 2021, before final approval by the FTC.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has updated the Energy Labeling Rule to include new labeling requirements for portable air conditioners, reflecting changes made by the Department of Energy (DOE). The FTC aims to help consumers make informed purchasing decisions by providing clear energy cost comparisons through these labels. The changes also include updated efficiency descriptors for central air conditioners to align with DOE's new standards. Although the FTC considered wider changes, they decided to explore potential shifts like electronic labeling in future proceedings.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to extend the current paperwork requirements for the Red Flags, Card Issuers, and Address Discrepancy Rules for another three years. These rules help prevent identity theft by requiring financial institutions and certain companies to have identity theft prevention programs and assess address changes. The current approval for these rules expires on January 31, 2025. Public comments are being accepted until February 6, 2025, and the FTC has received comments supporting more data protection.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is asking for public comments about proposed information requests aimed at large Single-Family Rental (SFR) owner operators, known as mega investors, who own over 1,000 rental properties. These requests are intended to help the FTC study the impact of such large investors on housing competition, prices, and their influence on local markets. The FTC plans to gather data about these companies' business models, property holdings, and pricing strategies, with the goal of increasing market transparency and possibly informing future regulatory actions. Public comments will be considered before the FTC requests approval from the Office of Management and Budget to proceed with this data collection.