Finally, the proposed settlement contains various reporting provisions designed to assist the FTC in monitoring the defendants' compliance. The FTC's Seattle Regional Office handled the investigation. They received tremendous assistance in this matter from the Alaska Attorney General Office. The Commission vote to authorize filing of the complaint and proposed consent decree was 5-0. This consent decree is for settlement purposes only and does not constitute an admission by the defendants of a law violation.
Consent decrees have the force of law when signed by the judge.