FTC ALTERS OPERATIONS TO CONFORM TO 'SUNSHINE' RULE

THE PUBLIC MAY NOW ATTEND MOST FTC MEETINGS AND OBSERVE FIRST HAND HOW THE AGENCY REACHES MANY OF ITS DECISIONS. UNDER THE FINAL RULES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GOVERNMENT IN THE SUNSHINE ACT, FTC MEETINGS ARE TO BE HELD IN OPEN SESSION UNLESS THE MATTERS TO BE DISCUSSED ARE COVERED BY ANY OF 10 SPECIFIC EXEMPTIONS. THE COMMISSION WILL PUBLICIZE ITS MEETINGS BY - 1. PUBLISHING ANNOUNCEMENTS IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER AT LEAST ONE WEEK IN ADVANCE, 2. MAILING ANNOUNCEMENTS TO INTERESTED PERSONS AND TO THE PRESS,, AND 3. POSTING ANNOUNCEMENTS IN THE FTC BUILDING. MEETING AGENDAS, INCLUDING A LISTING OF PROSPECTIVE ADJUDICATORY MATTERS, ALSO WILL BE PUBLISHED. IN GENERAL, THE FTC'S FINAL SUNSHINE RULE APPEARS TO BE CONSISTENT WITH BOTH THE WORDING AND INTENT OF THE GOVERNMENT IN SUNSHINE ACT. IT SHOULD PROVE INTERESTING TO OBSERVE BOTH THE BEHAVIOR OF FTC COMMISSIONERS AND THE MODE OF OPERATION OF THE FTC OVER THE YEARS AHEAD.