[Federal Register: June 10, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 112)]
[Notices]
[Page 32549-32550]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10jn04-91]
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FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
Notice of Roundtable To Aid Federal Trade Commission Staff in
Conducting a Study of the Accuracy and Completeness of Consumer
Reports, Pursuant to Section 319 of the Fair and Accurate Credit
Transactions Act of 2003
AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission.
ACTION: Notice of roundtable meeting.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Trade Commission (the ``Commission'' or ``FTC'')
is conducting a study of the accuracy and completeness of consumer
reports, as mandated by section 319 of the Fair and Accurate Credit
Transactions Act of 2003 (``the Act'' or ``FACT Act''). The
Commission's Bureau of Economics is holding a roundtable with scholars,
researchers, and other relevant parties on a review of methodologies
pertinent to testing the accuracy and completeness of consumer reports.
DATES: The roundtable will take place on June 30, 2004.
ADDRESSES: The roundtable will be held at the Federal Trade Commission,
601 New Jersey Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20580.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Persons seeking to attend the
roundtable should contact Marie Tansioco at (202) 326-3613 (Federal
Trade Commission, Bureau of Economics, 601 New Jersey Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20580) by June 18, 2004. Please include in your request
an explanation or statement
[[Page 32550]]
setting forth expertise in or knowledge of methodologies pertinent to
assessing the accuracy and completeness of consumer reports. As a
reminder, the roundtable will not be dealing with policy matters.
The FTC Act and other laws the Commission administers permit the
collection of information concerning persons seeking to attend the
roundtable to consider and use in this proceeding as appropriate. More
information, including routine uses permitted by the Privacy Act to the
extent applicable, may be found in the FTC's privacy policy, at http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/privacy.htm
.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FACT Act was signed into law on December
4, 2003. Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003, Public Law
108-159 (2003). In general, the Act amends the Fair Credit Reporting
Act (``FCRA'') to enhance the accuracy of consumer reports and to allow
consumers to exercise greater control regarding the type and amount of
marketing solicitations they receive. To promote increasingly efficient
national credit markets, the FACT Act also establishes uniform national
standards in key areas of regulation regarding consumer report
information. The Act contains a number of provisions intended to combat
consumer fraud and related crimes, including identity theft, and to
assist its victims. Finally, the Act requires a number of studies to be
conducted on consumer reporting and related issues.
Section 319 of the Act mandates that the Federal Trade Commission
shall conduct an ongoing study of the accuracy and completeness of
information contained in consumer reports prepared or maintained by
consumer reporting agencies and methods for improving the accuracy and
completeness of such information. The time horizon for the mandated
study, inclusive of a series of biennial reports to Congress, runs
eleven years. The first report is due in early December 2004.
The roundtable has a limited purpose: it is a review of various
methodologies pertinent to testing the accuracy and completeness of
consumer reports (also known as ``credit reports''). This review is not
part of any rule-making procedure and does not address any FTC policy
matter. Also, in reference to the language of the Act, the roundtable
discussion is solely a forum for review of methodologies applicable
exclusively to the accuracy and completeness aspect of the section 319
study and will not address methods for improving accuracy and
completeness, nor the costs and benefits of requirements, or potential
requirements, pertaining to credit reports.
By direction of the Commission.
Donald S. Clark,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 04-13081 Filed 6-9-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6750-01-P