The FTC is encouraging participation by consumers, government regulators, industry members, technologists, consumer advocates, academics, law enforcement officials and other interested members of the public. All of these groups are invited to attend the hearings scheduled for November 6 - 8, 2006, or to participate in the hearings through the FTC's live webcast. The hearing sessions scheduled for November 9, 2006 are open only to law enforcers and government officials.
Designed as a learning opportunity, the hearings will enable FTC staff to explore the ways in which core consumer experiences will likely change in the coming ten years, and to consider how these changes will impact the FTC's consumer protection mission. The agency hopes to use the hearings primarily as a means to gather information and will not be announcing new agency policy at the hearings.