80 FR 25677 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 86 (May 5, 2015)

Page Range		25677-25679
FR Document		2015-10419
The FTC plans to conduct a study to examine the factors influencing consumers' decisions to participate in a class action settlement, opt out of a class action settlement, or object to the settlement. This is the first of two notices required under the Paperwork Reduction Act (``PRA'') seeking public comments on proposed research before requesting Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') review of, and clearance for, the collection of information discussed herein.
Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 86 (Tuesday, May 5, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 86 (Tuesday, May 5, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25677-25679]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-10419]


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FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission (``Commission'' or ``FTC'').

[[Page 25678]]


ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The FTC plans to conduct a study to examine the factors 
influencing consumers' decisions to participate in a class action 
settlement, opt out of a class action settlement, or object to the 
settlement. This is the first of two notices required under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act (``PRA'') seeking public comments on proposed 
research before requesting Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') 
review of, and clearance for, the collection of information discussed 
herein.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 6, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties may file a comment at https://ftcpublic.commentworks.com/ftc/decidingfactorsstudypra online or on 
paper, by following the instructions in the Request for Comment part of 
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below. Write ``Class Action 
Deciding Factors Study, Project No. P024210'' on your comment, and file 
your comment online at https://ftcpublic.commentworks.com/ftc/decidingfactorsstudypra by following the instructions on the web-based 
form. If you prefer to file your comment on paper, write ``Class Action 
Deciding Factors Study, Project No. P024210'' on your comment and on 
the envelope, and mail your comment to the following address: Federal 
Trade Commission, Office of the Secretary, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., 
Suite CC-5610 (Annex J),Washington, DC 20580, or deliver your comment 
to the following address: Federal Trade Commission, Office of the 
Secretary, Constitution Center, 400 7th Street SW., 5th Floor, Suite 
5610 (Annex J), Washington, DC 20024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robin Moore, Attorney, 202-326-2167, 
Division of Enforcement, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 600 
Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20580.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Commission's Class Action Fairness Project strives to ensure 
that class action settlements in consumer protection and competition 
matters provide appropriate benefits to consumers and that class action 
counsel or defendants are not inappropriately benefitting at the 
expense of class members. As part of this program, the FTC monitors 
class actions and files amicus briefs or intervenes in appropriate 
cases;\1\ coordinates with state, federal, and private groups to advise 
them and to seek suggestions on matters that merit FTC attention; and 
monitors the progress of legislation and class action rule changes.
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    \1\ See e.g., FTC's Mem. of Law as Amicus Curiae, Nwabueze v. 
AT&T, Inc., 3:09-cv-1529 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 30, 2013), available at 
https://www.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/documents/amicus_briefs/nwabueze-v.att-inc./130830nwabuezeamicus.pdf; FTC's Mem. of Law as 
Amicus Curiae, White v. EDebitPay, LLC, 2:11-cv-06738 (C.D. Cal. 
Aug. 9, 2013), available at https://www.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/documents/amicus_briefs/anita-white-et-al.v.edebitpay-l.l.c.et-al.no.211-cv-06738-cbm-ffm-c.d.cal-august-9-2013/130809edebitpayamicusbrief.pdf; Mot. of FTC for Leave to File Brief 
as Amicus Curiae, Moore v. Verizon Commc'ns, Inc., 4:09-cv-08123 
(N.D. Cal. Aug. 17, 2012), available at https://www.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/documents/amicus_briefs/moore-v.verizon-communications-inc./120817mooreverizonamicusbrief.pdf.
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II. The FTC's Proposed Study

A. Study Description

    To further these goals, the FTC plans to conduct a consumer 
research study to determine what factors influence a consumer's 
decision to participate in a class action settlement, opt out of a 
class action settlement, or object to the settlement. Specifically, the 
study will examine whether consumers' comprehension of their options, 
the amount consumers expect to receive from the settlement, or the 
complexity of the settlement process impacts their decision to 
participate in a settlement. To conduct the study, FTC staff will 
directly contact consumers who have received class action notices. We 
plan to use the results, along with other information such as public 
comments, to guide the FTC's Class Action Fairness Project.
    Having considered the costs and benefits of various data collection 
methods, the FTC staff has concluded that directly contacting 
recipients of nationwide class action notices will provide the most 
efficient way to collect data to meet the research objectives within a 
feasible budget. Thus, the FTC proposes to collect responses from a 
broad spectrum of the U.S. adult population. Participants will be drawn 
from information provided by settlement administrators who have 
administered nationwide class actions. All participation will be 
voluntary. While the results will not be generalizable to the U.S. 
population, the Commission believes that they will provide useful 
insights into consumer understanding of the claims being considered.

B. PRA Burden Analysis

    Staff estimates that respondents will require, on average, 20 
minutes to complete the questionnaire. Staff will pretest the 
questionnaire with approximately 100 respondents to ensure that all 
questions are easily understood. Allowing for an extra three minutes 
for questions unique to the pretest, the pretest will total 
approximately 38 hours, cumulatively (100 respondents x 23 minutes 
each). Once the pretest is completed, the FTC plans to seek information 
from up to 8,000 respondents for approximately 20 minutes each. Thus, 
respondents will cumulatively take approximately 2,700 hours. The cost 
per respondent should be negligible. Participation will not require 
start up, capital, or labor expenditures.

III. Request for Comment

    Under the PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3521, federal agencies must obtain 
approval from OMB for each collection of information they conduct or 
sponsor. ``Collection of information'' means agency requests or 
requirements that members of the public submit reports, keep records, 
or provide information to a third party.\2\ As required by Section 
3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, the FTC is providing this opportunity for 
public comment before requesting that OMB extend the existing paperwork 
clearance for the regulations noted herein.
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    \2\ 44 U.S.C. 3502(3); 5 CFR 1320.3(c).
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    Pursuant to Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, the FTC invites 
comments on: (1) Whether the reporting requirements are necessary, 
including whether the information will be practically useful; (2) the 
accuracy of our burden estimates, including whether the methodology and 
assumptions used are valid; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, 
and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information.
    You can file a comment online or on paper. For the Commission to 
consider your comment, we must receive it on or before July 6, 2015. 
Write ``Class Action Deciding Factors Study, Project No. P024210'' on 
your comment. Your comment--including your name and your state--will be 
placed on the public record of this proceeding, including, to the 
extent practicable, on the public Commission Web site, at http://www.ftc.gov/os/publiccomments.shtm. As a matter of discretion, the 
Commission tries to remove individuals' home contact information from 
comments before placing them on the Commission Web site.
    Because your comment will be made public, you are solely 
responsible for making sure that your comment does not include any 
sensitive personal information, like anyone's Social

[[Page 25679]]

Security number, date of birth, driver's license number or other state 
identification number or foreign country equivalent, passport number, 
financial account number, or credit or debit card number. You are also 
solely responsible for making sure that your comment does not include 
any sensitive health information, like medical records or other 
individually-identifiable health information. In addition, do not 
include any ``[t]rade secret or any commercial or financial information 
which . . . is privileged or confidential,'' as provided in Section 
6(f) of the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. 46(f), and FTC Rule 4.10(a)(2), 16 CFR 
4.10(a)(2). In particular, do not include competitively-sensitive 
information such as costs, sales statistics, inventories, formulas, 
patterns, devices, manufacturing processes, or customer names.
    If you want the Commission to give your comment confidential 
treatment, you must file it in paper form, with a request for 
confidential treatment, and you have to follow the procedure explained 
in FTC Rule 4.9(c), 16 CFR 4.9(c).\3\ Your comment will be kept 
confidential only if the FTC General Counsel grants your request in 
accordance with the law and the public interest.
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    \3\ In particular, the written request for confidential 
treatment that accompanies the comment must include the factual and 
legal basis for the request and must identify the specific portions 
of the comment to be withheld from the public record. See FTC Rule 
4.9(c), 16 CFR 4.9(c).
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    Postal mail addressed to the Commission is subject to delay due to 
heightened security screening. As a result, we encourage you to submit 
your comments online. To make sure that the Commission considers your 
online comment, you must file it at https://ftcpublic.commentworks.com/ftc/decidingfactorsstudypra, by following the instructions on the web-
based form. If this Notice appears at http://www.regulations.gov/#!home, you also may file a comment through that Web site.
    If you file your comment on paper, write ``Class Action Deciding 
Factors Study, Project No. P024210'' on your comment and on the 
envelope and mail or deliver it to the following address: Federal Trade 
Commission, Office of the Secretary, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Room 
CC-5610 (Annex J), Washington, DC 20580, or deliver your comment to the 
following address: Federal Trade Commission, Office of the Secretary, 
Constitution Center, 400 7th Street SW., 5th Floor, Suite 5610 (Annex 
J), Washington, DC 20024. If possible, submit your paper comment to the 
Commission by courier or overnight service.
    Visit the Commission Web site at http://www.ftc.gov to read this 
Notice and the news release describing it. The FTC Act and other laws 
that the Commission administers permit the collection of public 
comments to consider and use in this proceeding as appropriate. The 
Commission will consider all timely and responsive public comments that 
it receives on or before July 6, 2015. You can find more information, 
including routine uses permitted by the Privacy Act, in the 
Commission's privacy policy, at http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/privacy.htm.

    By direction of the Commission.
Donald S. Clark,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-10419 Filed 5-4-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6750-01-P
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 86 / Tuesday, May 5, 2015 / Notices 25679

Security number, date of birth, driver’s the Commission by courier or overnight SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
license number or other state service.
Visit the Commission Web site at Background
identification number or foreign country
equivalent, passport number, financial http://www.ftc.gov to read this Notice The GLMRC is an advisory body
account number, or credit or debit card and the news release describing it. The composed of representatives of the
number. You are also solely responsible FTC Act and other laws that the Federal employee unions representing
for making sure that your comment does Commission administers permit the GSA employees and senior GSA
not include any sensitive health collection of public comments to officials. The GLMRC was established
information, like medical records or consider and use in this proceeding as consistent with Executive Order 13522,
other individually-identifiable health appropriate. The Commission will entitled, ‘‘Creating Labor-Management
information. In addition, do not include consider all timely and responsive Forums to Improve Delivery of
any ‘‘[t]rade secret or any commercial or public comments that it receives on or Government Services;’’ which instructs
financial information which . . . is before July 6, 2015. You can find more Federal agencies to establish
privileged or confidential,’’ as provided information, including routine uses department- or agency-level labor-
in Section 6(f) of the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. permitted by the Privacy Act, in the management forums to help identify
46(f), and FTC Rule 4.10(a)(2), 16 CFR Commission’s privacy policy, at http:// problems and propose solutions to
4.10(a)(2). In particular, do not include www.ftc.gov/ftc/privacy.htm. better serve the public and Federal
competitively-sensitive information By direction of the Commission. agency missions. The GLMRC is tri-
such as costs, sales statistics, Donald S. Clark, chaired by GSA’s Chief Human Capitol
inventories, formulas, patterns, devices, Secretary. Officer, together with two senior union
manufacturing processes, or customer [FR Doc. 2015–10419 Filed 5–4–15; 8:45 am] officials from each of the two Federal
names. BILLING CODE 6750–01–P
employees’ unions representing GSA
If you want the Commission to give employees.
your comment confidential treatment, The GLMRC works toward promoting
you must file it in paper form, with a GENERAL SERVICES cooperative and productive
request for confidential treatment, and ADMINISTRATION relationships between labor and
you have to follow the procedure management, providing an opportunity
explained in FTC Rule 4.9(c), 16 CFR [Notice–CSE–2015–01; Docket No. 2015– for employees through their union
4.9(c).3 Your comment will be kept 0002; Sequence No. 9] representatives to engage in pre-
confidential only if the FTC General decisional involvement in all workplace
Notice of the General Services
Counsel grants your request in matters to the fullest extent practicable,
Administration’s Labor-Management
accordance with the law and the public and to advise the GSA administrator on
Relations Council Meeting
interest. innovative ways to improve delivery of
Postal mail addressed to the AGENCY: Office of Human Resources services and products to the public
Commission is subject to delay due to Management (OHRM), General Services while cutting costs and advancing
heightened security screening. As a Administration (GSA). employee interests. The May 19, 2015
result, we encourage you to submit your ACTION: Notice of meetings. and May 20, 2015 meetings will
comments online. To make sure that the establish GLMRC’s priorities for 2015.
Commission considers your online SUMMARY: The General Services The GLMRC will also discuss workforce
comment, you must file it at https:// Administration’s Labor-Management planning and employee training and
ftcpublic.commentworks.com/ftc/ Relations Council (GLMRC), a Federal development.
decidingfactorsstudypra, by following Advisory Committee established in The meetings are open to the public.
the instructions on the web-based form. accordance with the Federal Advisory In order to gain entry into the Federal
If this Notice appears at http:// Committee Act (FACA), 5 U.S. C., App., building where the meeting is being
www.regulations.gov/#!home, you also and Executive Order 13522, plans to held, public attendees who are Federal
may file a comment through that Web hold two meetings that are open to the employees should bring their Federal
site. public. employee identification cards, and
If you file your comment on paper, DATES: The meetings will be held on members of the general public should
write ‘‘Class Action Deciding Factors Tuesday, May 19, 2015, from 9:30 a.m. bring their driver’s license or other
Study, Project No. P024210’’ on your to 4:30 p.m., and Wednesday, May 20, government-issued identification.
comment and on the envelope and mail 2015, 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., eastern
or deliver it to the following address: standard time. Public Comments
Federal Trade Commission, Office of the ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held The public is invited to submit
Secretary, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue in the General Services Administration’s written comments for the meetings until
NW., Room CC–5610 (Annex J), Conference Center, 1800 F Street NW., 5:00 p.m. eastern time on Monday, May
Washington, DC 20580, or deliver your Washington, DC 20405. This site is 18, 2015, by either of the following
comment to the following address: accessible to individuals with methods: Electronic or Paper
Federal Trade Commission, Office of the disabilities. Please refer to the GLMRC Statements: Submit electronic
Secretary, Constitution Center, 400 7th Web site on gsa.gov for the most up-to- statements to Ms. Temple Wilson,
Street SW., 5th Floor, Suite 5610 date meeting agenda, and access Designated Federal Officer, at
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

(Annex J), Washington, DC 20024. If information including changes in temple.wilson@gsa.gov; or send paper
possible, submit your paper comment to meeting rooms, times, or dates. statements in triplicate to Ms. Wilson at
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. 1800 F Street NW., Suite 7003A,
3 In particular, the written request for confidential Temple L. Wilson, GLMRC Designated Washington, DC 20405. In general,
treatment that accompanies the comment must Federal Officer (DFO), OHRM, General public comments will be posted on the
include the factual and legal basis for the request
and must identify the specific portions of the
Services Administration, at telephone GLMRC Web site. All comments,
comment to be withheld from the public record. See 202–969–7110, or email at gmlrc@ including attachments and other
FTC Rule 4.9(c), 16 CFR 4.9(c). gsa.gov. supporting materials received, are part

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Document Created: 2015-12-16 07:54:15
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Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice.
Dates		Comments must be received on or before July 6, 2015.
Contact		Robin Moore, Attorney, 202-326-2167, Division of Enforcement, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20580.
FR Citation		80 FR 25677