Today:  FTC – Announces Second Session of Competition and Consumer Protection Hearings, Lifeline Awareness Week 

FTC – Announces Second Session of Competition and Consumer Protection Hearings

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced it will hold the second session of its 21st Century Hearings initiative with a full-day event on September 21 at the FTC’s Constitution Center facilities in Washington, D.C. The event will be webcast live. 

Specific topics to be discussed at the sessions include (but are not limited to):

• whether the consumer welfare standard is the appropriate standard for antitrust law and, if not, whether other standards, including a total welfare standard, should be preferred;
• whether and, if so, how antitrust law should take into account additional public policy concerns such as income or wealth distribution, the bargaining power of large entities, or labor and employment considerations; 
• the accuracy and relevance of recent research identifying increases in concentration across broadly defined economic sectors, as well as some recent studies suggesting changes in price-cost margins over time, and what influence, if any, this existing research should have on antitrust law and policy;
• what are the highest priority reforms that would improve U.S. antitrust enforcement policy; 
• whether there are material differences between antitrust/competition policy and law in the United States and the rest of the world, and the effects of such differences;  
• whether, and how, mergers create buyer power; if so, whether and how this is distinct from monopsony power; and what harms buyer power or monopsony power may cause to sellers and/or consumers in downstream markets; and
• whether the antitrust agencies give sufficient recognition to the potential for buyer power acquired through a merger to enhance competition by enabling the parties to exercise countervailing power, or to the potential for existing buyer power to inhibit merging sellers from exercising market power.

The FTC invites public comment on these topics specifically and more generally.  Comments can be submitted electronically until November 15, 2018.

Hearing #2 On Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century 

9:00 am to 4:30 pm, September 21, 2018

FTC Constitution Center Auditorium

400 7th St., SW, Washington, DC

View the agenda

Lifeline Awareness Week

Both the Michigan and Georgia Public Service Commissions issued a press releases reminding consumers that September 10-14, 2018, is Lifeline Awareness week.

 Michigan 

The Michigan PSC noted that telecommunications provide a vital link for low-income Michiganders to access emergency help, jobs, family, and healthcare and urged participation in the discounted voice and broadband service.  Lifeline is offered by dozens of carriers throughout Michigan and helps make telephone or broadband service more affordable for qualified customers. This week is National Telephone Discount Lifeline Awareness Week, designed to raise awareness of and increase participation in the federal-state program.

“To access jobs, schooling, health services, and other support, Michigan’s vulnerable populations need reliable ways to communicate by phone or online,” said MPSC Chairman Sally Talberg. “The Lifeline program gives low-income Michiganders the ability to connect to valuable services in an affordable way.”

For more information about Michigan Lifeline, see this tip sheet or contact the MPSC at 800-292-9555. Check this list of participating companies to see if your local landline telephone company, wireless provider, or broadband provider participates in the Lifeline program. 

Georgia

The Georgia PSC noted that access to local emergency services and community resources is vital to low-income and elderly residents. The Commission wants residents to “stay connected” and is reaching out to those who need telecommunications service but are unable to afford it. The Lifeline assistance program offers discounts to help residents have access to voice or broadband services and helps low income consumers connect to the nation’s communications networks, find jobs, access health care services, connect with family, and call for help in an emergency.

Governor Nathan Deal has also issued a proclamation declaring September 10-14, 2018 as Lifeline Awareness Week in Georgia.  More information on the program eligibility, rules and key messages is available at https://www.fcc.gov/general/lifeline-program-low-income-consumers.

“We want to make eligible Georgians aware of this program which can provide this crucial link to services and family in times of need,” said Georgia PSC Chairman Lauren “Bubba” McDonald. As of June 30, 2018, there are approximately 350,000 Georgians who are receiving this credit, but there are thousands more who could qualify but are not enrolled.

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The Regulatory Mix, Inteserra’s blog of telecom related regulatory activities, is a snapshot of PUC, FCC, legislative, and occasionally court issues that our regulatory monitoring team uncovers each day. Depending on their significance, some items may be the subject of an Inteserra Briefing.