FTC, Department of Commerce Host Public ESIGN Workshop, April 3

The Federal Trade Commission and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration of the Department of Commerce will host a day-long workshop to examine the benefits and burdens of the consumer consent provision of the new Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (ESIGN). Congress enacted ESIGN to facilitate the use of electronic records and signatures in interstate and foreign commerce and to remove uncertainty about the validity of contracts entered into electronically. Under the Act, businesses that are required to provide information to consumers in writing may provide consumers with the information using electronic records only if the consumer consents in a manner that reasonably demonstrates the consumer's ability to access the electronic record. ESIGN requires the FTC and the Department of Commerce to conduct a study of this provision and report to Congress by June 30, 2001.

Tuesday, April 3, 2001 - 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

NOTE: Live audio coverage of the workshop will be Webcast at the FTC's home page at www.ftc.gov. Questions for participants can be submitted in real-time via e-mail to esignmail@ntia.doc.gov

FTC Headquarters
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW - Room 432
Washington, D.C. 20580