Fair Competition Counseling and Investigation of Complaints (36.001)
Program
36.001 Fair Competition Counseling and Investigation of Complaints
Federal Agency
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
Authorization
Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914, 15 U.S.C. 41- 58, 1988 and Supp. IV 1992, as amended; Clayton Act; Export Trade Act; Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921, as amended; Wool Products Labeling Act; Fur Products Labeling Act; Textile Fiber Products Identification Act; Fair Packaging and Labeling Act; Lanham Trade-Mark Act; Truth-in-Lending Act; Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act; Fair Credit Reporting Act; Hobby Protection Act of 1973; Deepwater Port Act; Magnuson-Moss Warranty-Federal Trade Commission Improvement Act; Equal Credit Opportunity Act; Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975; Consumer Leasing Act; Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended; Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvement Act; Fair Debt Collection Practices Act; Petroleum Marketing Practices Act of 1978; Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act Amendments of 1978; Electronic Funds Transfer Act; National Energy Conservation Policy Act of 1978; Deep Seabed Hard Minerals Act; Shipping Act of 1984, as amended; National Cooperative Research Act of 1984; Comprehensive Smokeless Tobacco Health Education Act of 1986; Telephone Disclosure and Dispute Resolution Act of 1992; Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act 1994; Children's Online Privacy Protection Act 1998; Identity Theft Assumption and Deterrence Act of 1998; Gramm-Leach Bliley Act 1999; College Scholarship Fraud Prevention Act of 2000; Crimes Against Charitable Americans Act of 2001; Home Equity Loan Consumer Protection Act of 1988; Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act of 1994; Credit Repair Organizations Act of 1996; Dolphin Protection Consumer Information Act of 1990; Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994; Do-Not-Call Implementation Act of 2003.
Program Number
36.001
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To prevent business practices that are anticompetitive or deceptive or unfair to consumers; to enhance informed consumer choice and public understanding of the competitive process; and to accomplish these missions without unduly burdening legitimate business activity.
Types of Assistance
Advisory Services and Counseling; Investigation of Complaints.
Uses and Use Restrictions
To prevent consumer fraud and deception, anticompetitive mergers, and unfair and other anticompetitive business practices in the marketplace.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Assistance is available to the general public.
Beneficiary Eligibility
General public.
Credentials/Documentation
Complaints must contain facsimiles of questioned advertising, labeling or other practice, or a summary of any oral misrepresentation involved, together with name and address of the alleged offender.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
Send complaint to FTC. Questionable local practices should be referred to State or local authorities.
Award Procedure
Not applicable.
Deadlines
Not applicable.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
Not applicable.
Renewals
Not applicable.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Not applicable.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Not applicable.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Not applicable.
Audits
Not applicable.
Records
Not applicable.
Program Accomplishments
Investigations initiated (formal): Fiscal year 2002, 546; 2003 est. 573; and 2004 est. 602. Investigations completed or closed: Fiscal year 2002, 391; 2003 est. 411; and 2004 est. 431; Orders to cease and desist issued: Fiscal year 2002, 27; 2003 est. 28; and 2004 est. 30; Trade regulation rules and guides promulgated or amended: Fiscal year 2002, 3; 2003 est. 3; and 2004 est. 3.
Financial Information
Account Identification
29-0100-0-1-376.
Obligations
(Salaries and Expenses) FY 02 $155,534,900; FY 03 est $176,552,700; and FY 04 est $191,132,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Not applicable.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
A list of publications is available by writing the Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20580. Publications are available in local Depository Libraries or by using our Web Site Address: http://www.ftc.gov/.
Related Programs
10.155, Marketing Agreements and Orders; 10.800, Livestock, Meat and Poultry Market Supervision; 39.009, Federal Citizen Information Center; 58.001, Securities_Investigation of Complaints and SEC Information; 59.009, Procurement Assistance to Small Businesses.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Persons are encouraged to communicate with the local FTC Regional Director: 10877 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90024. Telephone: (310) 824-4343; Use the same number for FTS; 901 Market St., Suite 570, San Francisco, CA 94103. Telephone: (415) 356-5270; Use the same number for FTS; Suite 5M35, Midrise Bldg., 60 Forsyth St., SW, Atlanta, GA 30303. Telephone: (404) 656-1390; Use the same number for FTS; 55 E. Monroe St., Suite 1860, Chicago, IL 60603-5701. Telephone: (312) 960-5634; Use the same number for FTS; 150 William St., Suite 1300, New York, NY 10038. Telephone: (212) 264-8290; Use the same number for FTS; Eaton Center, Suite 200, 1111 Superior Ave., Cleveland, OH 44114-2507. Telephone: (216) 263-3455; Use the same number for FTS; 1999 Bryan St., Suite 2150, Dallas, TX 75201-6808. Telephone: (214) 979-9350; 2806 Federal Bldg., 915 Second Ave., Suite 2896, Seattle, WA 98174. Telephone: (206) 220-6350; Use the same number for FTS.
Headquarters Office
Consumer Protection Matters: Director, Bureau of Consumer Protection. Telephone: (202) 326-3430. Restraint of Trade Matters: Director, Bureau of Competition. Telephone: (202) 326- 2932. Both are in the Federal Trade Commission Building, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20580.
Web Site Address
Examples of Funded Projects
10.155, Marketing Agreements and Orders; 10.800, Livestock, Meat and Poultry Market Supervision; 39.009, Federal Consumer Information Center; 58.001, Securities--Investigation of Complaints and SEC Information; 59.009, Procurement Assistance to Small Businesses.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Not applicable.
