Trade regulation rules: Funeral industry practices,

[Federal Register: July 2, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 127)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 35965-35966]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr02jy99-19]

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

16 CFR Part 453

Extension of Time for Comments Concerning Trade Regulation Rule on Funeral Industry Practices

AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission.

ACTION: Notice of extension of comment period.

SUMMARY: The Federal Trade Commission (``the Commission'' or ``FTC'') has extended the date by which comments must be submitted concerning the review of its Trade Regulation Rule on Funeral Industry Practices (``Funeral Rule''). This document informs prospective comments of the change and sets a new date of August 11, 1999, for the end of the comment period.

DATES: Written comments will be accepted until the close of business on August 11, 1999. Notification of interest in participating in the public workshop must be submitted separately on or before August 11, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be identified as ``16 CFR part 453'' and submitted to: Secretary, Federal Trade Commission, Room H-159, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20580. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for future details.

All comments will be placed on the public record and will be available for public inspection in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552, and the Commission's Rules of Practice, 16 CFR 4.11, during normal business days from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Public Reference Room, Room 130, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. Washington, DC 20580. In addition, comments will be posted ont he Internet at the FTC's web site: ``www.ftc.gov.''

Notification on interest in participating in the Public Workshop- Conference should be submitted in writing on or before August 11, 1999, to Myra Howard, Division of Marketing Practices, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20580.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Myra Howard, (202) 326-2047, or Mercedes Kelley, (202) 326-3665, Division of Marketing Practices, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20580.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 5, 1999, the Commission published in the Federal Register a Request for Comment on its Funeral Industry Practices Rule (``Funeral Rule'' or ``Rule''), 16 CFR part 453, as part of its regulatory review program. 64 FR 24250. The Funeral Rule details a number of unfair and deceptive practices relating to providers of funeral goods and services, and sets forth preventive requirements in the form of price and information disclosures to ensure the funeral providers avoid engaging in the enumerated unfair or deceptive acts or practices. The Federal Register notice (``notice'') posed thirty questions in all; some were general regulatory review questions, while others asked about material issues that are specific to the Funeral Rule and the funeral industry. The notice requested commenters to provide answers where possible, and specifically asked for data, surveys and empirical evidence to support comments submitted to the Commission. Pursuant to the Federal Register notice, the comment period currently ends on July 12, 1999.

Between June 11, 1999, and June 16, 1999, staff have received requests for a modest extension of the comment period from four separate organizations representing a variety of viewpoints on the Rule--the National Funeral Directors Association (``NFDA''), the American Association of Retired Persons (``AARP''), the Funeral and Memorial Societies of America, Inc. (``FAMSA''), and the Monument Builders of North America (``MBNA''). The parties indicated that additional time was required to prepare thorough, thoughtful responses to the questions contained in the Federal Register notice.

The Commission is mindful of the need to deal with this matter as expeditiously as possible. However, the Commission is also aware that some of the issues raised by the Federal Register notice are rather complex, and it welcomes as much substantive input as possible to facilitate its decisionmaking process. Accordingly, in order to provide sufficient time for these and other interested parties to prepare useful comments, the Commission has decided to extend the deadline for comments by thirty (30) days, until August 11, 1999.

Additional Comment Information

The Commission requests that commenters submit the original plus five copies, if feasible. To enable prompt review and public access, all written comments should also be submitted, if possible, in electronic form. To submit

[[Page 35966]]

in electronic form, provide the comment on either a 5\1/4\'' or a 3\1/ 2\'' computer disk. The disk should be labeled with the commenter's name and the name and version of the word processing program used to create the document. (Programs based on DOS or Windows are preferred. Files from other operating systems should be submitted in ASCII text format). Alternatively, the Commission will also accept comments submitted to the following E-Mail address: ``FUNERAL@ftc.gov.'' Individual members of the public who will be filing comments need not submit multiple copies and need not submit their comments in electronic form.

List of Subjects in 16 CFR Part 453

Funerals, Trade practices.

By direction of the Commission. Benjamin I. Berman, Acting Secretary.

[FR Doc. 99-16767Filed7-1-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6750-01-M