Commission Approves Federal Register Notice Seeking Comments on Amplifier Rule Review

Commission approval of Federal Register notice: The Commission has approved the publication of a Federal Register notice seeking comments as part of the regulatory review of the FTC’s Trade Regulation Relating to Power Output Claims for Amplifiers Utilized in Home Entertainment Products, commonly known as the Amplifier Rule. As detailed in the notice, which will be published soon and is available now on the FTC’s Web site and as a link to this press release, the Amplifier Rule helps consumers compare the power outputs of competing amplifiers used in home entertainment products by prescribing a standardized testing protocol and disclosure format for power output claims. Along with seeking general comments on the Rule as part of the Commission’s systematic review of its regulatory guides, the FTC is seeking comments on whether the Rule should be modified to address the methodology for rating the power outputs of “home theater” multichannel amplifiers.

The Commission vote approving publication of the notice was 5-0. Public comments are being accepted through May 12, 2008. (FTC File No. P974222; the staff contact is Jock K. Chung, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 202-326-2984.)

Copies of the documents mentioned in this release are available from the FTC’s Web site at http://www.ftc.gov and from the FTC’s Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580. Call toll-free: 1-877-FTC-HELP.