FTC'S June 29-30 Workshop on B2B Electronic Marketplaces to be Held in Jefferson Auditorium at U.S. Department of Agriculture

Due to an unexpectedly large showing of public interest in its workshop: "Competition Policy in the World of B2B Electronic Marketplaces," the Federal Trade Commission announced today that the workshop's location has been changed to accommodate a large attendance. The workshop, which will take place on June 29-30, 2000, will now be held in the Jefferson Auditorium at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

B2B electronic marketplaces are software systems that allow multiple buyers and sellers to carry out sales and procurement activities over the Internet. The goal of the workshop is to enhance understanding of how B2B electronic marketplaces function and the means by which they may generate efficiencies, and to identify any antitrust issues that they raise. Questions to be addressed and procedures for submitting written comments were identified in the initial announcement of the workshop, published in the May 10 Federal Register. A list of panelists will be released before the workshop and it will also be available on the FTC's website.

The best entrance for the Jefferson Auditorium is through Wing 5 of the Department of Agriculture's headquarters building, which is located on Independence Avenue, SW, between 12th and 14th Streets, SW. Additional travel information for the workshop is available.

Workshop Schedule: (List of panel speakers will be released shortly)

Thursday, June 29, 2000

7:30 - 9:00 am 
Sign-in  

9:00 - 9:10 am 
Chairman Pitofsky's Opening Remarks  

9:10 - 9:20 am
Introduction to Workshop  

9:20 -11:40 am 
Panel 1: How B2Bs Work - Models and Experience  

9:20 - 10:00 am 
Demonstrations  

10:00 -10:30 am 
Discussion  

10:30 -11:10 am 
Demonstrations 

11:10 -11:40 am 
Discussion  

11:40 -11:50 am 
Remarks by Commissioner Swindle  

11:50 am - 1:20 pm 
Lunch  

1:20 - 1:30 pm 
Remarks by Commissioner Anthony  

1:30 - 3:20pm 
Panel 2: Buyer-Oriented Perspectives  

3:20 - 3:40
Break  

3:40 - 5:30 pm
Panel 3: Seller-Oriented Perspectives

Friday, June 30, 2000

7:30 - 9:00 am 
Sign-in  

9:00 - 9:10 
am Remarks by Commissioner Thompson 

9:10 -10:40 am 
Panel 4: Perspectives of Owners and Operators  

10:40 -11:00 am 
Break  

11:00 -12:15 pm 
Panel 5: Future Developments and Public Policy Implications

12:15 - 1:45 pm 
Lunch  

1:45 - 1:55 pm 
Remarks by Commissioner Leary

1:55 - 3:45 pm 
Panel 6: Competition Policy Implications