Announced Actions for June 4, 1996

The Federal Trade Commission today announced the following actions.

Commission action regarding applications for prior approval: Following a public comment period, the FTC has ruled on an application from the following:

• The FTC has approved the plan of Tele-Communications, Inc., of Englewood, Colorado, to divest its cable television system in Columbus, Georgia, to Charter Communications Properties, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Charter Communications, Inc., which is based in St. Louis, Missouri. The divestiture, required under a 1995 consent order settling charges that TCI’s acquisition of TeleCable Corporation would eliminate competition for cable television service in Columbus, was designed to restore cable television service competition in that area. (See Jan. 26, 1995 news release for more detail regarding the consent order; Docket No. C-3575; Commission vote to approve the divestiture was 5-0.) The FTC staff contact is Dan Ducore, 202-326-2526.

Consent agreements given final approval: Following a public comment period, the Commission has made final consent agreements with the following entities. The Commission action makes the orders binding on the respondents.

• Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Inc., of Arlington, Illinois, Midwestern Regional Medical Center, Inc., based in Zion, Illinois, and Memorial Medical Center and Cancer Institute, Inc., of Tulsa, Oklahoma, settling charges that they made false and unsubstantiated claims in advertising and promoting their cancer treatments. The order requires the respondents to have competent and reliable evidence -- scientific in certain appropriate instances -- to support representations about patient survivorship or cure rates, or endorsement, or efficacy, performance, safety or benefits of any cancer treatment. They also are prohibited from using testimonials in a misleading way. (See March 13, 1996 news release for more details regarding the consent order; Docket No. C-3662; Commission vote on March 31 was 5-0). Staff contact is Richard F. Kelly, 202-326-3304.
• N.W., Ayer & Son, Inc., which does business as NW Ayer, Inc., of New York City, settling charges over its role in creating ads for Eggland’s Best, Inc. eggs. The FTC challenged claims regarding the effect of the eggs on blood cholesterol. The final order prohibits Ayer from misrepresenting with regard to eggs and any meat, dairy or poultry product the absolute or comparative amount of cholesterol, total fat, saturated fat or any other fatty acid or the existence or results of any test or study. The order also requires Ayer to have competent and reliable scientific evidence to back up any claims that such products have any effect on serum cholesterol or any health benefit. (See March 13, 1996 news release for more details regarding the consent order; Docket No. C-3660; Commission vote on March 31 was 5-0.) Staff contact is Lee Peeler, 202-326-3090.

Copies of the documents referenced above are available from the FTC’s Public Reference Branch, Room 130, 6th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580; 202-326-2222; TTY for the hearing impaired 1-866-653-4261. To find out the latest news as it is announced, call the FTC NewsPhone recording at 202-326-2710. FTC news releases and other materials also are available on the Internet at the FTC’s World Wide Web site at: http://www.ftc.gov