Acting Federal Trade Commission Chairman Maureen K. Ohlhausen has appointed Neil Alan Chilson as the agency’s acting Chief Technologist. Chilson will be primarily responsible for advising Chairman Ohlhausen and the Commission on technology matters, including the FTC’s use of technology, technical aspects of law enforcement actions, and technology policy recommendations. His portfolio will also include […]
Monthly Archives: July 2017
FTC Staff Provides Additional Comment and Testimony in Tennessee Opposing Mountain States’ and Wellmont’s Certificate of Public Advantage Application
Federal Trade Commission staff submitted an additional public comment to the Tennessee Department of Health that opposes issuing a certificate of public advantage (COPA) to Mountain States Health Alliance and Wellmont Health System that would allow the two companies to merge. This comment responds to consultant reports commissioned by Mountain States and Wellmont and submitted […]
FTC Charges Debt Collection Scheme with Posing as Attorneys to Take Consumers’ Money for Phantom Debts
The Federal Trade Commission has charged a debt collection operation with taking people’s money for fake debts they did not owe by posing as lawyers and falsely threatening to sue or have them arrested if they did not pay. A federal court temporarily halted the operation and froze its assets at the request of the […]
Acting FTC Chairman Ohlhausen Announces Internal Process Reforms: Reducing Burdens and Improving Transparency in Agency Investigations
Federal Trade Commission Acting Chairman Maureen K. Ohlhausen announced several internal process reforms in the agency’s Bureau of Consumer Protection that will streamline information requests and improve transparency in Commission investigations. The reforms are part of Acting Chairman Ohlhausen’s efforts to further the agency’s mission to protect consumers and promote competition without unduly burdening legitimate […]
FTC Staff Offers Comment on FCC’s Network Neutrality Proceeding
The staff of the Federal Trade Commission has submitted comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) supporting that agency’s proposal to restore FTC jurisdiction related to broadband Internet access services. The FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, Bureau of Competition, and Bureau of Economics submitted joint comments on the FCC’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Restoring […]
Phony OSHA Scam Banned from Conning Small Businesses
An operation that allegedly conned small businesses into paying for government-required regulatory posters will be banned from selling such materials, which government agencies provide for free. The settlement resolves FTC charges brought in 2016, that the defendants pretended to be a federal agency and threatened to shut down or fine newly-opened businesses unless they bought […]
FTC Approves Amendments to Divestiture Order in LafargeHolcim Ltd. Merger
Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved an application from LaFargeHolcim, Ltd to amend several agreements that were part of a 2015 FTC order settling charges that the $25 billion merger of Holcim Ltd. and Lafarge S.A. would likely harm competition in the United States. Under the order, the Commission required […]
FTC Approves Sublicense for Synacthen Depot Submitted by Mallinckrodt ARD Inc.
The Federal Trade Commission has approved a sublicense submitted by Mallinckrodt ARD Inc. granting West Therapeutic Development, LLC certain rights to develop and market the specialty drug Synacthen Depot in the United States. Synacthen Depot contains a synthetic version of adrenocorticotropic hormone, or ACTH, and is approved in Europe and elsewhere to treat infantile spasms, […]
Statement from FTC’s Acting Bureau of Competition Director Markus H. Meier on Decision by DraftKings and FanDuel to Abandon Their Proposed Merger
“The parties’ decision to abandon this transaction is a clear win for American consumers,” said Markus H. Meier, Acting Director of the Bureau of Competition. “For years, the vigorous competition between DraftKings and FanDuel has spurred innovation and favorable pricing. In brief, consumers benefitted from the intense rivalry between the two leading players in this […]
FTC Announces Agenda for First Economic Liberty Public Roundtable
The FTC’s Economic Liberty Task Force has announced the agenda for its first Roundtable, Streamlining Licensing Across State Lines: Initiatives to Enhance Occupational License Portability. The July 27 event will explore options for enhancing the portability of occupational licenses. Acting Chairman Maureen K. Ohlhausen will open the Roundtable, which will bring together a variety of […]