445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
ftp.fcc.gov
Released: September 23, 1999
THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION AND THE FEDERAL TRADE
COMMISSION WILL HOST A PUBLIC FORUM TO ADDRESS MARKETING
PRACTICES USED IN THE ADVERTISING OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
SERVICES
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announce that they will convene a joint Public Forum on November 4, 1999 to discuss the marketing and advertising of dial-around and other long-distance telecommunication services.
The FCC and FTC plan to hold the Public Forum from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., at the Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW, Commission Meeting Room, Washington, DC 20554.
As a result of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and long-standing FCC policies designed to foster competition in the long-distance telecommunications market, many companies are offering consumers a variety of choices in long-distance calling. While consumers benefit from being able to choose the particular service that best meets their long-distance needs, some report being confused and often misled by the nature of the claims made by carriers in their advertisements.
As a result, the FTC and FCC have concluded that a Public Forum would be appropriate to afford staff and interested participants an opportunity to explore the issues raised by the advertising and marketing of dial-around and other telecommunications services. Based on the information provided at the forum, the agencies will determine whether future action is necessary regarding the advertising and marketing of long-distance telephone services.
Notification of interest in participating in the forum must be submitted in writing on or before October 20, 1999, to Lynn Vermillera, Room 5-C817, Enforcement Division, Common Carrier Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554
Request to Participate
To be eligible to participate, you must file a request to participate by October 20, 1999. If the number of applicants who request to participate in the forum is so large that including all requestors would inhibit effective discussion among participants, staff of the FTC and FCC will select a limited number of applicants to represent the relevant interests. Selection will be based on the following criteria:
- The applicant submitted a request to participate by October 20, 1999.
- The applicant's participation would promote the representation of a balance of interests at the forum.
- The applicant's participation would promote the consideration and discussion of the issues presented in the forum.
- The applicant has expertise in issues raised in the forum.
- The applicant adequately reflects the view of the affected interest(s) which it purports to represent.
If it is necessary to limit the number of participants, those who requested to participate but were not selected will be afforded an opportunity, if at all possible, to present statements during a limited time period at the end of the session. The time allotted for these statements will be based on the amount of time necessary for discussion of the issues by the selected parties, and on the number of persons who wish to make statements.
Requestors will be notified as soon as possible after October 20, 1999, if they have been selected to participate.
For further information please contact: Lynn Vermillera, lvermill@fcc.gov, (202) 418-7120, Room 5-C817, Enforcement Division, Common Carrier Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554; or Marianne Schwanke, mschwanke@ftc.gov, (202) 326-3165, Division of Marketing Practices, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580.
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