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Georgetown University Law Center
600 New Jersey Ave., NW Washington DC 20001

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Room
Hart Auditorium

Event Description

The Federal Trade Commission began its Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century with a full-day session, co-sponsored with and held at the Georgetown University Law Center, on September 13, 2018.

Chairman Joe Simons makes remarks<br />opening the first FTC hearing
Chairman Joe Simons makes remarks
opening the first FTC hearing

The Georgetown event was the first in a series of hearings that will examine whether broad-based changes in the economy, evolving business practices, new technologies, or international developments might require adjustments to competition and consumer protection enforcement priorities of the Commission. Many sessions will conclude with an opportunity for those attending the event in-person to submit questions to the participants. These public events, in conjunction with the public comment process, will provide the FTC with a broad and diverse range of viewpoints and stimulate evaluation of key enforcement and policy issues.

FTC Chairman Joe Simons presented opening remarks, followed by a day of discussion by a distinguished set of panelists who discussed the following topics (some of which will be discussed on the rescheduled date):

  • the current landscape of competition and consumer protection law and policy;
  • whether the U.S. economy has become more concentrated and less competitive;
  • the regulation of consumer data;
  • antitrust law and the consumer welfare standard; and
  • the analysis of vertical mergers.

This hearing was initially scheduled for September 13-14, 2018, but the second day sessions were rescheduled to November 1 due to inclement weather.

Disability accommodation

We welcome people with disabilities. The FTC will accommodate as many attendees as possible; however, admittance will be limited to seating availability. Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. Requests for accommodations should be submitted to Elizabeth Kraszewski via email at ekraszewski@ftc.govor by phone at (202) 326-3087. Such requests should include a detailed description of the accommodation needed. In addition, please allow at least five business days advance notice for accommodation requests; last minute requests will be accepted but may not be possible to accommodate.

 

  • Thursday, September 13, 2018

    9:00 am

    Welcome and Introductory Remarks

    Joseph Simons
    Federal Trade Commission

    9:15-11:45 am

     

     

     

    The Current Landscape of Competition and Consumer Protection Law and Policy

    Participants:

    • Jason Furman
      Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government
    • Alysa Hutnik
      Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
    • Janet McDavid
      Hogan Lovells US LLP
    • Timothy Muris
      Sidley Austin LLP
      George Mason University, Antonin Scalia Law School
    • James Rill
      Baker Botts LLP
    • David Vladeck
      Georgetown University Law Center

    Moderator: Bilal Sayyed
    Federal Trade Commission, Office of Policy Planning

     

    1:30-3:00 pm

    Has the US Economy Become More Concentrated and Less Competitive: A Review of the Data

    Participants:

    • Jonathan Baker
      American University Washington College of Law
    • Steven Berry
      Yale University, Department of Economics
    • Fiona Scott Morton
      Yale University School of Management
    • Joshua D. Wright
      Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University
      Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

    Moderator: Gregory Werden
    U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division

    3:00-3:15 pm

    Break

    3:15-5:00 pm

     

    The Regulation of Consumer Data

    Participants:

    • Maureen K. Ohlhausen
      Federal Trade Commission
    • Howard Beales
      George Washington University School of Business
    • Daniel Solove
      George Washington University Law School
    • David Vladeck
      Georgetown University Law Center

    Moderator: James Cooper
    Federal Trade Commission, Bureau of Consumer Protection

    5:00-5:15 pm

    Closing Remarks

    Howard Shelanski
    Georgetown University Law Center
    Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

     

  • Request for Comments

    If parties already filed relevant comments in response to the Initial Topics for Comment, they need not refile those comments here.

FTC Privacy Policy

Under the Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) or other laws, we may be required to disclose to outside organizations the information you provide when you pre-register for events that require registration. The Commission will consider all timely and responsive public comments, whether filed in paper or electronic form, and as a matter of discretion, we make every effort to remove home contact information for individuals from the public comments before posting them on the FTC website.

The FTC Act and other laws we administer permit the collection of your pre-registration contact information and the comments you file to consider and use in this proceeding as appropriate. For additional information, including routine uses permitted by the Privacy Act, see the Commission’s Privacy Act system for public records and comprehensive privacy policy.

This event will be open to the public and may be photographed, videotaped, webcast, or otherwise recorded.  By participating in this event, you are agreeing that your image — and anything you say or submit — may be posted indefinitely at ftc.gov or on one of the Commission's publicly available social media sites.