Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 87 /Wednesday, May 6, 1998 / Notices 25045

Attorney, Office of the General Counsel,

Room 598, 6th Street & Pennsylvania

Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20850.

Telephone: (202) 326–2453. E-mail:

ECrockett@FTC.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Signe-Mary McKernan, Economist,

Federal Trade Commission, 6th Street

and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.,

Washington, DC 20580. Telephone:

(202) 326–3480. E-mail:

SMcKernan@FTC.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FTC

seeks comments concerning a proposed

telephone survey of consumers in order

to: (1) Evaluate whether the proposed

collection of information is necessary

for the proper performance of the

functions of the FTC, including whether

the information will have practical

utility; (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the

FTC’s estimate of the burden of the

proposed collection of information,

including the validity of the

methodology and assumptions used; (3)

Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity

of the information to be collected; and

(4) Minimize the burden of the

collection of information on those who

are to respond, including through the

use of appropriate automated,

electronic, mechanical or other

technological collection techniques or

other forms of information technology,

e.g., permitting electronic submission of

responses.

Title: Survey of Rent-to-Own

Customers.

Type of review: New.

Frequency: Once.

Affected public: Consumers.

Response Hour Burden:

Pre-test questionnaire: approximately

10 minutes × 50 people=8 hours.

Screening question: One initial

question within a survey of 20,000

people (other topics are also

submitted from third party entities).

Approximately 30 seconds × 20,000

people=167 hours.

Questionnaire response:

Approximately 300–500 consumers

× 10 minutes=83 hours.

Total burden hours: Approximately

260.

Abstract: The FTC proposes to survey

rent-to-own customers in order to

evaluate their experiences with rent-toown transactions. This information will

be used to assess reported consumer

protection concerns and in

consideration of possible future

Commission actions. All information

will be collected on a voluntary basis

and the identities of respondents will

remain confidential.

If OMB approves, the FTC will

contract with a survey firm to identify

300 to 500 rent-to-own consumers and

to briefly obtain information about their

experience with the rent-to-own

industry. Survey respondents will be

identified through screening questions

included in a preexisting random digit

dialing survey of a nationally

representative sample of approximately

1,000 individuals. The screening survey

will include routine demographic

questions as well as specific questions

contracted by other firms and

organizations. Given the low (roughly

2%) incidence rate of rent-to-own

customers within the general

population, the FTC estimates that

approximately 20,000 people will be

screened in order to obtain a sample of

300 to 500 customers.

The survey questionnaire will be

pretested on approximately 50

respondents to ensure that all questions

are easily understood. The pretest will

take approximately 10 minutes apiece,

for a total of 8 hours. The final survey

will involve 300–500 respondents, again

for approximately 10 minutes apiece, for

a total of 83 hours.

By direction of the Commission.

Donald S. Clark,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 98–11941 Filed 5–5–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6750–01–M

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

‘‘Year 2000’’ Consumer Issues;

Request for Comment

AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission.

ACTION: Request for public comments.

SUMMARY: The Federal Trade

Commission (‘‘Commission’’) seeks

comment on the various types of ‘‘Year

2000’’ problems that consumers are

likely to face. The term ‘‘Year 2000

problems’’ (hereinafter ‘‘Y2K

problems’’) as used in this Federal

Register Notice (hereinafter ‘‘Notice’’)

refers to problems caused by the

inability of software and/or electronic

products, including personal computers

(hereinafter ‘‘PCs’’) and other computer

systems, to process, store, display, or

otherwise utilize dates correctly

beginning in the year 2000. This

inability usually stems from a failure to

distinguish between the year 2000 (and

subsequent years) and the year 1900

(and subsequent years). Additionally, it

might include an inability to recognize

the year 2000 as a leap year.

Specifically, the Commission seeks

comment on what types of consumer

software and electronic products are

likely to experience Y2K problems, as

well as what steps have been taken or

will be taken by software publishers,

electronics manufacturers, and others to

notify consumers of any anticipated

Y2K problems and to remedy any such

problems. The Commission also seeks

comment on potential Y2K problems

likely facing various segments of the

consumer financial services industry,

such as finance entities, consumer

reporting agencies (some of which are

commonly referred to as credit bureaus),

and other businesses involved in

consumer financial services. Lastly, the

Commission seeks comment regarding

interest in participating in or attending

one or more workshops to discuss the

issues raised in this Notice.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on

or before June 22, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should

be submitted to: Secretary, Federal

Trade Commission, Room H–159, Sixth

Street and Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,

Washington, D.C. 20580. The

Commission requests that the original

comment be filed with five copies, if

feasible. The Commission also requests,

if possible, that the comment be

submitted in electronic form on a

computer disk. (Programs based on DOS

or Windows are preferred. Files from

other operating systems should be

submitted in ASCII text format.) The

disk label should identify the

commenter’s name and the name and

version of the word processing program

used to create the comment.

Alternatively, the Commission will

accept comments submitted to the

following e-mail address <y2k@ftc.gov>.

All submissions should be captioned:

‘‘Year 2000 Consumer Issues—

Comment, FTC File No. P984238.’’

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For

questions concerning consumer

software or electronic products:

Jonathan M. Cowen, Attorney, Division

of Enforcement, Federal Trade

Commission, Sixth Street &

Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington,

DC 20580, telephone 202–326–2533, email (for questions or information only)

<jcowen@ftc.gov>. For questions

concerning consumer financial services:

Rolando Berrelez, Attorney, Division of

Credit Practices, Federal Trade

Commission, Sixth Street and

Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington,

DC 20580, telephone 202–326–3211, email (for questions or information only)

<rberrelez@ftc.gov>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The Commission believes that

consumers might potentially experience
25046 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 87 /Wednesday, May 6, 1998 / Notices

1Cf. related definitions in Exec. Order No. 13,073,

63 FR 6,467 (1998) (‘‘Y2K problem’’ defined with

respect to ‘‘computer systems and other electronic

devices’’); 48 CFR 39.002 (‘‘Year 2000 compliant’’

defined with respect to ‘‘information technology’’);

Letter from Kevin Thurm, Deputy Secretary of the

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to

Biomedical Equipment Manufacturers, Enclosure

(Jan. 21, 1998) (‘‘Year 2000 compliant’’ defined with

respect to ‘‘medical devices and scientific

laboratory equipment’’).

2The Commission is using the term electronic

products in this Notice to refer broadly to all

products that contain one or more embedded

microchips. It has been suggested that only

electronic products whose microchips possess a

date function with a year component might

potentially experience Y2K problems. Specific

examples of consumer electronic products that it

has been suggested might experience Y2K problems

include, non-exhaustively, the following products:

PCS, videocassette recorders (hereinafter ‘‘VCRs’’),

programmable thermostats, home security systems,

home automation systems, digital wristwatches,

camcorders, cameras, and fax machines. It has also

been suggested that Global Positioning System

(hereinafter ‘‘GPS’’) receivers might experience

problems related to use of a 10-bit field for weeks

since January 1980—sometimes called ‘‘Week

1024’’ problems—that might occur beginning in

August 1999. For purposes of GPS receivers, the

Commission is using the term ‘‘Y2K problems’’ to

include such problems.

3The Commission is using the term finance

entities in this Notice to refer broadly to

nonfederally chartered or nonfederally insured

entities—such as mortgage companies, finance

companies, leasing companies, vehicle

manufacturers or dealerships, retailers, and

others—who may extend and/or advertise

‘‘consumer credit’’ or ‘‘consumer leases,’’ as those

terms are defined under § 226.2 of Regulation Z, 12

CFR 226.2, as amended, or § 213.2 of Regulation M,

12 CFR 213.2, as amended, respectively.

4The term consumer reporting agency, as used in

this notice, is defined in Section 1681a of the Fair

Credit Reporting Act (‘‘FCRA’’), 15 U.S.C. 1681a, as

amended. The term generally refers to any person,

which, for monetary fees, dues, or on a cooperative

nonprofit basis, regularly engages in whole or in

part in the practice of assembling or evaluating

consumer credit information or other information

on consumers for the purpose of furnishing

consumer reports to third parties, and which uses

any means or facility of interstate commerce for the

purpose of preparing or furnishing consumer

reports. The term consumer report as used in this

notice, is also defined in Section 1681a of the

FCRA. Generally, consumer report refers to any

written, oral, or other communication of any

information by a consumer reporting agency which

is used or expected to be used or collected in whole

or in part for the purpose of serving as a factor in

establishing a consumer’s eligibility for credit,

insurance, or employment.

5Hearing on ‘‘Year 2000 Risks: What Are The

Consequences Of Information Technology Failure?’’

Before the Subcomm. on Technology of the House

Science Comm. and the Subcomm. on Government

Management, Information and Technology of the

House Government Reform and Oversight Comm.

(1997); Hearing on ‘‘The Year 2000 Problem’’ Before

the House Comm. on Banking and Financial

Services (1998); Hearing on ‘‘Financial Institutions

and the Year 2000 Problem’’ Before the Subcomm.

on Financial Services and Technology of the Senate

Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Comm. (1997).

6Letter from Kevin Thurm, Deputy Secretary of

the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,

to Biomedical Equipment Manufacturers (Jan. 21,

1998).

7Safety and Soundness Guidelines Concerning

the Year 2000 Business Risk, Federal Financial

Institutions Examination Council (Dec. 17, 1997).

8Mitre Corporation, COTS Companies and

Product Information Database (1998) <http://

www.mitre.org/research/cots/

VENDORlLIST.html>.

9Chief Information Officers Council, Federal Year

2000 Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) Product

Database (1998) <http://y2k.policyworks.gov>.

10Securities Industry Association, Year 2000

Financial Service Industry Scorecard (1997) <http:/

/www.sia.com>.

11Obtaining and disseminating reliable

information also could help correct any

misinformation that might inadvertently have been

disseminated in the popular press and elsewhere.

12Conceivably, manufacturers, retailers, and/or

consumer groups might consider establishing

alternative dispute resolution (hereinafter ‘‘ADR’’)

mechanisms, in particular to deal with electronic

product problems. An ADR program might have the

flexibility to effectively handle remedy issues that

could be complicated by factors such as the age of

the product at issue and its expected useful life.

13Federal Trade Commission Policy Statement on

Deception, appended to Cliffdale Associates, Inc.,

103 F.T.C. 110, 174 (1984); Federal Trade

Commission Policy Statement on Unfairness,

appended to International Harvester Co., 104 F.T.C.

949, 1070 (1984) (superseded by 15 U.S.C. 45(n));

Federal Trade Commission Policy Statement

Regarding Advertising Substantiation, 48 FR 10,471

(Mar. 11, 1983).

14The Consumer Credit Protection Act, 15 U.S.C.

1601 et seq. includes, inter alia, the Truth in

Lending Act, 15 U.S.C. 1601–1667 et seq., and its

Y2K problems 1 related to PC software,

electronic products,2 and consumer

financial services provided by finance

entities,3 consumer reporting agencies,4

and other businesses. These consumer

issues have been explored to some

extent in Congressional hearings 5 and

by other federal agencies. For example,

the Food and Drug Administration has

sought information from manufacturers

of biomedical equipment concerning the

Y2K compliance of their products, some

of which might be in the possession of

consumers.6 Also, the Federal Financial

Institutions Examination Council has

issued safety and soundness guidance to

federally-chartered or federally-insured

financial institutions on potential Y2K

risks.7

With respect to software and

information-technology-related

electronic products, there have also

been some efforts by both private and

government entities to disseminate

available information on specific

products. For example, some

commercial off-the-shelf (hereinafter

‘‘COTS’’) software and PC

manufacturers have made Y2K

compliance information available to the

business community and consumers on

the Internet. This information has in

turn been aggregated to varying degrees

by other entities, who have also made

their COTS compilations available on

the Internet. A comprehensive

compilation is the COTS database

maintained by Mitre Corp. (hereinafter

‘‘Mitre’’).8 Mitre’s database describes

many of the Y2K problems that

individual software and PC

manufacturers have already disclosed

and sometimes also directs readers to

the availability of software ‘‘patches’’

(i.e., fixes) that can be downloaded from

the manufacturers’ own Internet sites.

The Year 2000 Subcommittee of the

Chief Information Officers Council has

established a similar Internet database

that provides COTS compliance

information collected from vendors and

federal agencies.9

Furthermore, with respect to financial

issues, at least one trade association has

surveyed its membership regarding their

Y2K preparedness and posted a variety

of Y2K-related materials on its Internet

site.10 The survey did not, however,

directly seek information related to

consumer financial services, such as

credit issues.

The Commission believes that it

would be useful to solicit public

comment on the Y2K problems that

consumers will likely face in order to

obtain more complete information on

these potential problems. The

Commission also believes that

aggregating information on these

seemingly disparate issues might help

businesses and consumers alike to avert

otherwise unforeseen problems.11 In

addition, potential remedies for

problems that might occur could also be

identified. With regard to consumer

software and electronic products, these

could range from downloadable

software patches to rebates or refunds.12

Legal Authority

Section 5 of the Federal Trade

Commission Act (hereinafter ‘‘FTC

Act’’), 15 U.S.C. 45(a), gives the

Commission broad authority over the

advertising and marketing of products

and services through its prohibition on

‘‘unfair or deceptive acts or practices in

or affecting commerce.’’ The

Commission has issued policy

statements to provide guidance on how

it evaluates whether acts or practices are

‘‘unfair or deceptive’’ under section 5 of

the FTC Act and on how it will enforce

the legal requirement that advertisers

possess a reasonable basis for objective

claims about their products and

services.13

Additionally, the Commission has

enforcement authority under the

Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, 15

U.S.C. 2301 et seq., and has

promulgated rules, regulations,

statements, and interpretations pursuant

thereto. 16 CFR parts 700–703. The

Commission also has enforcement

authority under the Consumer Credit

Protection Act.14
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 87 /Wednesday, May 6, 1998 / Notices 25047

implementing Regulation Z, 12 CFR part 226; the

Consumer Leasing Act, 15 U.S.C. 1667–1667e, and

its implementing Regulation M, 12 CFR part 213,

the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, 15 U.S.C. 1691–

1691f and its implementing Regulation B, 12 CFR

part 202, the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, 15

U.S.C. 1693 et seq. and its implementing Regulation

E, 12 CFR part 205, the Fair Credit Reporting Act,

15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq., as amended, and the Fair

Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. 1692 et seq.

15Questions concerning software, microchips,

and electronic products should be construed as

limited to such items that could still be in use by

consumers now.

16With respect to software, the Commission is

using the term type to refer to categories such as

spreadsheet programs, database programs,

schedulers, communications programs, etc. The

Commission also requests information on specific

software titles, to the extent that such information

is available.

17With respect to microchips, the Commission is

using the term type to refer to categories such as

clock speed, amount of memory and cache, bus

speed, special purchase, general purpose,

programmability, etc. The Commission also

requests information on specific models, to the

extent that such information is available.

18With respect to electronic products, the

Commission is using the term type to refer to

categories such as VCRs, PCS, fax machines, etc.

The Commission also requests information on

specific models, to the extent that such information

is available.

Public Workshops

The Commission seeks public

comment as to the advisability of

convening one or more public

workshops to assist in gathering

information and to provide an

opportunity for public dialogue

regarding the issues raised in this

Notice. The Commission believes that

software and microchip/electronic

product issues could likely be discussed

in a single workshop, while consumer

financial service issues might require a

separate workshop. Any workshops

would not be intended to achieve a

consensus among participants, or

between participants and Commission

staff, with regard to issues raised in this

Notice. Persons interested in attending

or participating in such workshops are

requested to notify Commission staff in

the comment submitted in response to

this Notice. If the Commission decides

to convene one or more public

workshops, it will announce the subject

matter, date, time, and location of the

workshop(s) in a separate notice in the

Federal Register.

Request for Comment

Interested parties are requested to

submit written comments on any issue

of fact, law or policy that may inform

the Commission regarding the issues

raised in this Notice. Please provide

copies of any studies, surveys, research,

or other empirical data referenced in

responses. The Commission also seeks

comment on the following specific

questions:15

Software and Electronic Products

Software

1.1 What types 16 of consumer software

process, store, display, or otherwise

utilize dates? How are the dates

utilized?

1.2 What types of consumer software,

if any, are marketed as Y2K

compliant? What is meant by this

claim?

1.3 What types of consumer software,

if any, are likely to have Y2K

problems? What is the nature of the

problems?

1.4 For each type of consumer

software likely to have Y2K

problems, is software with such

problems currently being marketed?

If so, what percentage of the

software of this type currently being

marketed has Y2K problems? If not,

when did marketing end?

a. What percentage of the software of

this type being marketed two years

ago had Y2K problems? Five years

ago?

1.5 For each type of consumer

software likely to have Y2K

problems, how frequently do

consumers typically upgrade or

replace the software? What

percentage of consumers who use

this type of software typically use a

version that is more than two years

old? More than five years old? More

than ten years old?

1.6 For each type of consumer

software likely to have Y2K

problems, what, if anything, has

been done or will be done to notify

consumers of these problems? If

notification is planned but has not

yet occurred, when will it occur?

1.7 For each type of consumer

software likely to have Y2K

problems, is a software fix a

practical solution? What is the

nature of the fix?

a. What, if anything, has been done or

will be done to notify consumers of

any practical software fixes? If

notification is planned but has not

yet occurred, when will it occur?

b. How is the fix being made available

to consumers? How much, if

anything, are consumers expected

to pay to obtain the fix? What is the

cost of the fix to software

publishers?

1.8 What types of consumer software,

if any, are able to avert Y2K

problems provided the consumer

takes some specific action (e.g.,

resetting the clock)?

a. Does the software prompt the user

with a message suggesting the

necessary action?

b. If not, what, if anything, has been

done or will be done to notify

consumers of the necessary action?

1.9 For each type of consumer

software likely to have Y2K

problems, if software fixes are

impractical, have consumers been

offered or will they be offered any

refunds (full or partial),

replacement software, or other

compensation (e.g., discounts off

replacement software)? If so, how

have consumers been notified or

will they be notified of such

refunds, replacements, or other

compensation?

Microchips

2.1 What types 17 of microchips that

are embedded in consumer

electronic products process, store,

or otherwise utilize dates? How are

the dates utilized?

2.2 Are there circumstances under

which a microchip might utilize

dates indirectly (e.g., checking the

date circuit to determine whether a

product is turned on)? If so, how are

the dates utilized?

2.3 What types of microchips, if any,

are marketed as Y2K compliant?

What is meant by this claim?

2.4 What types of microchips that are

embedded in consumer electronic

products, if any, are likely to have

Y2K problems? What is the nature

of the problems?

Electronic Products

3.1 What types 18 of consumer

electronic products contain

microchips that process, store, or

otherwise utilize dates? How are the

dates utilized?

3.2 Are there circumstances under

which a consumer electronic

product might contain a microchip

that utilizes dates indirectly (e.g.,

checking the date circuit to

determine whether a product is

turned on)? If so, how are the dates

utilized?

3.3 What types of consumer electronic

products, if any, are marketed as

Y2K compliant? What is meant by

this claim?

3.4 What types of consumer electronic

products, if any, are likely to have

Y2K problems? What is the nature

of the problems?

3.5 For each type of consumer

electronic product likely to have

Y2K problems, are products with

such problems currently being

marketed? If so, what percentage of

the products of this type currently

being marketed has Y2K problems?

If not, when did marketing end?
25048 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 87 /Wednesday, May 6, 1998 / Notices

19With respect to consumer financial services, the

Commission is using the term ‘‘type’’ to refer to

categories of automated systems, including software

or computer hardware categories such as

spreadsheet programs, database programs, PCS,

mainframes, etc. The Commission also requests

information on specific software titles or hardware

models, to the extent that such information is

available.

a. What percentage of the products of

this type being marketed two years

ago had Y2K problems? Five years

ago?

3.6 For each type of consumer

electronic product likely to have

Y2K problems, how frequently do

consumers typically replace the

product? What percentage of

consumers who use this type of

product typically use a model that

is more than two years old? More

than five years old? More than ten

years old?

3.7 For each type of consumer

electronic product likely to have

Y2K problems, what, if anything,

has been done or will be done to

notify consumers of these

problems? If notification is planned

but has not yet occurred, when will

it occur?

3.8 For each type of consumer

electronic product likely to have

Y2K problems, is a software fix a

practical solution? What is the

nature of the fix?

a. What, if anything, has been done or

will be done to notify consumers of

any practical software fixes? If

notification is planned but has not

yet occurred, when will it occur?

b. How is the fix being made available

to consumers? How much are

consumers expected to pay to

obtain the fix? What is the cost of

the fix to product manufacturers?

3.9 For each type of consumer

electronic product likely to have

Y2K problems, is a hardware fix a

practical solution? What is the

nature of the fix?

a. What, if anything, has been done or

will be done to notify consumers of

any practical hardware fixes? If

notification is planned but has not

yet occurred, when will it occur?

b. How is the fix being made available

to consumers? How much, if

anything, are consumers expected

to pay to obtain the fix? What is the

cost of the fix to product

manufacturers?

3.10 For each type of consumer

electronic product likely to have

Y2K problems, if software or

hardware fixes are impractical, have

consumers been offered or will they

be offered any refunds (full or

partial), replacement products, or

other compensation (e.g., discounts

off replacement products)? If so,

how have consumers been notified

or will they be notified of such

refunds, replacements, or other

compensation?

Retailers Selling Software or Electronic

Products

4.1 To what extent are retailers

concerned that consumers will

return software or electronic

products that have Y2K problems?

To what extent are retailers working

with software publishers and

electronic product manufacturers to

handle anticipated returns?

4.2 To what extent are retailers

working with software publishers

and electronic product

manufacturers to ensure that

consumer software and electronic

products will not have Y2K

problems?

4.3 To what extent would alternative

dispute resolution programs be able

to remedy Y2K problems that

consumers have with software and

electronic products? What other

remedies can retailers identify?

Consumer Financial Services

Finance Entities

5.1 What types 19 of computer or other

automated systems used by finance

entities in connection with

consumer credit or leasing

transactions process, store, display,

or otherwise utilize dates? How are

the dates utilized?

5.2 What types of systems used by

finance entities in connection with

consumer credit or leasing

transactions, if any, are likely to

have Y2K problems? What is the

nature of the problems?

5.3 For each type of system used by

finance entities in connection with

consumer credit or leasing

transactions that is likely to have

Y2K problems, what has been done

or will be done to fix the problem?

If a fix is planned but has not yet

occurred, when will it occur?

5.4 Are there computer systems used

by finance entities in connection

with consumer credit or leasing

transactions for which likely Y2K

problems cannot or will not be

fixed before January 1, 2000? If so,

why can’t or won’t such problems

be fixed?

a. When is it planned that the

problems with these systems will be

fixed? How will they be fixed?

b. What percentage of consumer

accounts is likely to be affected by

these unfixed Y2K problems? What

will be the consequences for

consumers? For creditors, lessors,

and/or advertisers?

c. What, if any, steps are being taken

to identify and notify consumers

whose accounts will be affected?

d. Will the unfixed Y2K problems

affect a creditor, lessor, and/or

advertiser’s compliance with

federal consumer credit (or lease)

protection statutes? If so, how?

e. Will the unfixed Y2K problems

result in erroneous information

being reported to or from third

parties such as consumer reporting

agencies or debt collection

agencies? What, if any, steps are

being taken to avert such erroneous

reporting?

Consumer Reporting Agencies

6.1 What types of computer or other

automated systems used by

consumer reporting agencies in

connection with assembling or

evaluating consumer information or

furnishing consumer reports

process, store, display, or otherwise

utilize dates? How are the dates

utilized?

6.2 What types of systems used by

consumer reporting agencies in

connection with assembling or

evaluating consumer information or

furnishing consumer reports, if any,

are likely to have Y2K problems?

What is the nature of the problems?

6.3 For each type of system used by

consumer reporting agencies in

connection with assembling or

evaluating consumer information or

furnishing consumer reports that is

likely to have Y2K problems, what

has been done or will be done to fix

the problem? If a fix is planned but

has not yet occurred, when will it

occur?

6.4 Are there computer systems used

by consumer reporting agencies in

connection with assembling or

evaluating consumer information or

furnishing consumer reports for

which likely Y2K problems cannot

or will not be fixed before January

1, 2000? If so, why can’t or won’t

such problems be fixed?

a. When is it planned that the

problems with these systems will be

fixed? How will they be fixed?

b. What percentage of consumer

accounts is likely to be affected by

these unfixed Y2K problems? What

will be the consequences for

consumers? For consumer reporting

agencies? For third parties?

c. What, if any, steps are being taken

to identify and notify consumers

whose accounts will be affected?
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 87 /Wednesday, May 6, 1998 / Notices 25049

20To the extent that a retailer or other business

involved in consumer financial services might also

be a finance entity, these questions are in addition

to those directed to all finance entities.

d. Will the unfixed Y2K problems

affect a consumer reporting agency

or third party’s compliance with

federal consumer credit protection

statutes? If so, how?

e. Will the unfixed Y2K problems

result in erroneous information

being reported to or from third

parties? What, if any, steps are

being taken to avert such erroneous

reporting? What, if any, steps are

being taken to handle consumer

complaints related to such

erroneous reporting?

Retailers and Other Businesses Involved

in Consumer Financial Services 20

7.1 What types of computer or other

automated systems (including cash

registers, credit/debit card

equipment, other electronic fund

transfer devices, etc.) used by

retailers and others in connection

with third-party credit/leasing

transactions, electronic fund

transfers, other forms of payments,

or other types of consumer financial

services process, store, display, or

otherwise utilize dates? How are the

dates utilized?

7.2 What types of systems used by

retailers and others in connection

with third-party credit/leasing

transactions, electronic fund

transfers, other forms of payments,

or other types of consumer financial

services, if any, are likely to have

Y2K problems? What is the nature

of the problems?

7.3 For each type of system used by

retailers and others in connection

with third-party credit/leasing

transactions, electronic fund

transfers, other forms of payments,

or other types of consumer financial

services, that is likely to have Y2K

problems, what has been done or

will be done to fix the problem? If

a fix is planned but has not yet

occurred, when will it occur? If a

fix cannot or will not occur before

January 1, 2000, why not?

Availability of Submissions

All submissions received in response

to this Notice will be available for

public inspection in accordance with

the Freedom of Information Act, 5

U.S.C. 552, and Commission

regulations, 16 CFR 4.9, on normal

business days between the hours of 8:30

a.m. and 5 p.m. at the Public Reference

Room 130, Federal Trade Commission,

Sixth Street & Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,

Washington, DC 20580. The

Commission will make this Notice, and

to the extent technically possible, all

submissions received in response to this

Notice, available to the public through

the Internet at the following address:

<http://www.ftc.gov>.

Confidentiality

Persons submitting material in

response to this Notice may designate

that material or portions of it

confidential and request that it be

withheld from the public record. No

such material or portions of material

will be placed on the public record until

the General Counsel has ruled on the

request for confidential treatment and

provided any prior notice to the

submitter required by law. All requests

for confidential treatment shall be

supported by a showing of justification

in light of applicable statutes, rules,

orders of the Commission or its

administrative law judges, orders of the

courts, or other relevant authority.

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.

By direction of the Commission.

Donald S. Clark,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 98–11943 Filed 5–5–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6750–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary

Agency Information Collection

Activities: Proposed Collections;

Comment Request

The Department of Health and Human

Services, Office of the Secretary will

periodically publish summaries of

proposed information collections

projects and solicit public comments in

compliance with the requirements of

Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork

Reduction Act of 1995. To request more

information on the project or to obtain

a copy of the information collection

plans and instruments, call the OS

Reports Clearance Officer on (202) 690–

6207.

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether

the proposed collection of information

is necessary for the proper performance

of the functions of the agency, including

whether the information shall have

practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the

agency’s estimate of the burden of the

proposed collection of information; (c)

ways to enhance the quality, utility and

clarity of the information to be

collected; and (d) ways to minimize the

burden of the collection of information

on respondents, including through the

use of automated collection techniques

or other forms of information

technology.

Proposed Projects 1. Study of Frail

Elders in Medicare Managed Care, New

The Office of the Assistant Secretary

for Planning and Evaluation is

proposing to conduct a study of how

managed care delivery systems can meet

the needs of elderly beneficiaries with

disabilities and chronic illnesses. A

survey of Medicare beneficiaries will be

conducted to identify ways in which

managed care can add value and

barriers to realizing added value.

Respondents: Individuals or

households; Number of Responses:

3264; Average Burden per Response:

35.57 minutes; Total Burden: 1,935

hours.

Send comments to Cynthia Agens

Bauer, OS Reports Clearance Officer,

Room 503H, Humphrey Building, 200

Independence Avenue S.W.,

Washington DC 20201. Written

comments should be received within 60

days of this notice.

Dated: April 28, 1998.

Dennis P. Williams,

Deputy Assistant Secretary, Budget.

[FR Doc. 98–11962 Filed 5–5–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4150–04–M

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary

Supporting Field Initiated Teen

Pregnancy Prevention Evaluation

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant

Secretary for Planning and Evaluation;

DHHS.

ACTION: Announcement of the

availability of funds and request for

applications to enhance existing

evaluations on teen pregnancy

prevention programs.

SUMMARY: The Office of the Assistant

Secretary for Planning and Evaluation

(ASPE) announces that applications are

being accepted for funding to augment

existing evaluations of teen pregnancy

prevention interventions that are

rigorous in design and already have

funding. The primary goal of the

proposed grants is to further the

understanding of teen pregnancy

prevention interventions and the extent

to which these interventions meet their

goal of reducing teenage pregnancies.

Federal funding under this

announcement is intended to support

evaluation exclusively, not program

operation or service provision. Projects

funded under this announcement are