[Federal Register: July 3, 1995 (Volume 60, Number 127)]
[Proposed Rules] [Page 34485-34486] From the Federal Register
Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]


FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION 16 CFR Part 436 Franchise Rule Review
Public Workshop Conference Agency: Federal Trade Commission.
Action: Public workshop conference

Summary: The Federal Trade Commission (``FTC'' or ``Commission'')
will hold a public workshop conference in connection with the
regulatory review of the Commission's Trade Regulation Rule on
Disclosure Requirements and Prohibitions Concerning Franchising
and Business Opportunity Ventures (``the Francise Rule'' or ``the
Rule''). Dates: The public workshop conference will be held at
the Crown Sterling Suites, 7901 34th Avenue South, Bloomington,
Minnesota 55425, on September 12 through 14, 1995, from 9 a.m.
until 5 p.m. each day. Addresses: Notification of interest in
participating in the public workshop conference should be
submitted in writing on or before August 11, 1995, to Myra
Howard, Division of Marketing Practices, Federal Trade
Commission, Washington, DC 20580. For Further Information
Contact: Steven Toporoff, (202) 326-3135, or Myra Howard, (202)
326-2047, Division of Marketing Practices, Bureau of Consumer
Protection, Federal Trade Commission, Washington DC 20580.
Supplementary Information: On April 7, 1995, the Commission
published a request for public comment on the Franchise Rule. 60
FR 17656 (April 7, 1995). As part of its systematic review of
Commission regulations and guides, the Commission requested
comments about the overall costs and benefits of the Franchise
Rule and its overall regulatory and economic impact. The
Commission also requested comment on whether the Rule should be
modified so as to: (1) Replace the current Rule disclosure
requirements with those set forth in the revised Uniform
Franchise Offering Circular Guidelines, approved by the
Commission on December 30, 1993; (2) modify the scope of
disclosure requirements for business opportunity ventures; (3)
clarify the applicability of the Rule to trade show promoters;
and (4) require the disclosure of earnings information. Written
comments will be accepted on or before August 11, 1995. In its
request for comment on the Franchise Rule, the Commission also
stated that the FTC staff would conduct a Public Workshop
Conference to discuss the written comments received during the
rule review. The Public Workshop Conference will afford
Commission staff and interested parties an opportunity to discuss
openly issues raised during the rule review, and, in particular,
to examine publicly any areas of significant controversy or
divergent opinions that are raised in the written comments.
Commission staff will consider the views and suggestions made
during the conference, in conjunction with the written comments,
in formulating its final recommendation to the Commission
concerning the Franchise Rule. The Commission staff will select a
limited number of parties to represent the significant interests
affected by the Franchise Rule. These parties will participate in
an open discussion of the issues. It is contemplated that the
selected parties might ask and answer questions based on their
respective comments. In addition, the conference will be open to
the general public. Members of the general public who attend the
conference may have an opportunity to make a brief oral statement
presenting their views on issues raised in the rule review
process. Oral statements of views by members of the general
public will be limited to a few minutes. The time allotted for
these statements will be determined on the basis of the time
available and the number of persons who wish to make statements.
The discussion will be transcribed and placed on the public
record. In addition, written submissions of views, or any other
written or visual materials, will be accepted during the
conference and will be made part of the public record. To the
extent possible, Commission staff will select parties to
represent the following affected interests: Franchisors;
franchisees; business opportunity promoters; business opportunity
purchasers; franchise and business opportunity trade shows
organizers; franchise and business opportunity brokers; franchise
consultants; economists and academicians; Federal, State and
local law enforcement and regulatory authorities; and any other
interests that Commission staff may identify and deem appropriate
for representation. Parties representing the above-referenced
interests will be selected on the basis of the following
criteria: 1. The party submits a comment during the comment
period ending on August 11, 1995. 2. The party notifies
Commission staff in writing of its interest and, if required,
authorization to represent an affected interest, on or before
August 11, 1995. [[Page 34486]] 3. The party's participation
would promote a balance of interests being represented at the
conference. 4. The party's participation would promote the
consideration and discussion of a variety of issues raised during
the rule review process. 5. The party has experience or expertise
in activities affected by the Franchise Rule. 6. The party
adequately reflects the views of the affected interest(s). 7. The
number of parties selected will not be so large as to inhibit
effective discussion among them. The conference will be
facilitated by a Commission staff member. It will be held over
the course of three consecutive days, September 12- 14, 1995, at
the Crown Sterling Suites, 7901 34th Avenue South, Bloomington,
Minnesota. Parties interested in representing an affected
interest at the conference must notify Commission staff in
writing on or before August 11, 1995. Each notice of interest in
participating at the conference should contain a brief statement
making clear which affected interest the requestor seeks to
represent. Prior to the conference, parties selected to represent
an affected interest will be provided with copies of the comments
submitted in response to the request for comments. List of
Subjects in 16 CFR Part 436 Advertising, Business and industry,
Franchising, Trade practices Authority: 15 U.S.C. 41-58. By
direction of the Commission. Donald S. Clark, Secretary. [FR Doc.
95-16257 Filed 6-30-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6750-01-M