Administrative Interpretations, General Policy Statements, and Enforcement Policy Statements

Resumo

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC or Commission) proposes amending its regulations by adopting a policy statement supporting and encouraging the use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) procedures in appropriate circumstances. This statement implements the Administrative Dispute Resolution Act (ADRA), which requires federal agencies to develop a policy regarding the use of ADR in their administrative programs. Both the ADRA and the Negotiated Rulemaking Act (NRA) authorize and encourage agencies to use arbitration, mediation, negotiated rulemaking, and other consensual methods of dispute resolution. The Commission is seeking comment from interested persons on its proposed ADR policy statement, including any comments concerning issues or proceedings that would be especially amenable to alternative dispute resolution or areas in which such techniques should be limited or not used.