Announced Actions for September 17, 2004

Commission approval of Federal Register notice: The Commission has voted to rescind its Tire Advertising and Labeling Guides (Tire Guides), finding that “[t]he vast majority of Tire Guide provisions are adequately addressed by other laws and regulations . . . or have been rendered obsolete because of changes in the market.”

The Tire Guides have remained largely unchanged since the current regulations became effective in 1968, although the industry has changed significantly. Consumers now have access to the Internet, national retailers, regional tire stores, and new car dealerships, in addition to the full-service gas stations and locally owned stores that dominated the earlier market. The bias-ply tire that was standard when the guides were created has been largely replaced by radial tires, and consumers have access to a range of brands, tread patterns, and mileage warranties. Moreover, since the Tire Guides were adopted, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been created and developed its own comprehensive regulations covering disclosure of information on tires. These changes, along with other statutes, regulations, and Commission industry guides have made the Tire Guides obsolete and redundant.

The Commission vote approving publication of a Federal Register notice announcing the rescission was 4-0-1, with Commissioner Jon Leibowitz not participating. (FTC File No. P037702; the staff contact is Jonathan Kessler, FTC East Central Region, 216-263-3436)

Commission approval of final consent orders: Following a public comment period, the Commission has approved a final consent order in the matter concerning KFC Corporation. The Commission vote to approve the final consent order and send letters to the commenters of record was 5-0. (FTC File No. 042-3033; the staff contact is Shira Modell, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 202-326-3116; see press release dated June 3, 2004.)

Following a public comment period, the Commission has approved a final consent order in the matter concerning Gateway Learning Corporation and issued a response to the commenter of record. The Commission vote to approve the final consent order was 5-0. (FTC File No. 042-3047; the staff contact is Laura Mazzarella, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 202-326-3224; see press release dated July 7, 2004.)

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