FOR YOUR INFORMATION.........April 29, 1987

     The Federal Trade Commission has given final approval to the
following consent agreements that it had previously accepted and
placed on the public record for comments:


      --   Meadville, Penn., physicians.  The consent order settles
           charges that 62 doctors in Meadville, Penn., illegally
           threatened to boycott a hospital in another city.  The
           consent agreement was placed on the public record Nov. 25
           and issued March 2.  (Docket No. C-3209)

      --   Reliance Wood Preserving Inc.  The consent orders settle
           charges that Reliance and two associated companies
           misrepresented the flame-retardant value of their
           "Flameguard" wood.  The consent agreements were placed on
           the public record Jan. 15 and issued April 2.  (Dockets No.
           C-3210 and C-3211)
                The Commission voted 4-1 to issue the consent orders,
           with Commissioner Andrew J. Strenio, Jr. dissenting.  In a
           separate statement, he said, "In my view, both the danger
           to public safety from the misrepresentations alleged in
           this matter and the difficulty for consumers of detecting
           the existence and extent of injury indicate that monetary
           redress should be included in the settlement."

      --   C&D Electronics Inc.  The consent order settles charges
           that C&D illegally sold unauthorized cable television
           decoders directly to consumers.  The consent agreement was
           placed on the public record Feb. 24, 1986, and issued March
           6.  (Docket No. C-3212)
                The Commission voted 4-1 to issue the consent order,
           with Commissioner Mary L. Azcuenaga dissenting.  In a
           separate statement, she said, "By accepting this order, the
           Commission embarks on a course of social engineering that
           brings a radical new meaning to the concept of consumer
           protection."
                Chairman Oliver also issued a separate statement, in
           which he said that he voted to accept the agreement because
           "this case fits the analytic framework that we have
           established for our 'unfairness' jurisdiction, and the
           facts present justify Commission action."

     Consent orders are for settlement purposes only and do not
constitute admission of a law violation.  When issued in final form,
they carry the force of law with respect to future actions.  Each
violation of such an order may result in a civil penalty of up to
$10,000.
     A press release summarizing the complaint and consent agreement
in each case was issued at the time it was first announced.  Copies of
the press releases and the agreements are available from the FTC's
Public Reference Branch, Room 130, 6th & Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20580; 202-326-2222; TTY 202-326-2502.

                                 # # #


MEDIA CONTACT:  Susan Ticknor, Office of Public Affairs,
                202-326-2179
(2ndstep)