FTC Extends Public Comment Deadline on Proposed Telemarketing Sales Rule Changes Through August 8, 2013

The Federal Trade Commission has extended the deadline through August 8, 2013 for public comments regarding recently announced proposed changes to the agency’s Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR).  The proposed changes concern banning certain payment methods favored in fraudulent telemarketing transactions.  In a press release issued May 21, 2013, the FTC announced July 29, 2013 as the close of the public comment period. 

A slightly modified version of the original notice of proposed rulemaking was published in the Federal Register on July 9.  The revised notice contains non-substantive changes that remove quoted excerpts of current and proposed TSR provisions, which were included in the original version of the notice to provide readers with a better understanding of the proposed changes.  The FTC has extended the deadline to the public comment period for 30 days after the notice was published in the Federal Register, until August 8. Comments can be submitted electronically.

The Commission vote to extend the public comment period was 4-0.  (FTC File No. R411001; the staff contact is Karen Hobbs, 202-326-3587)

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