FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  March 23, 1988


        FTC SHOULD STRIVE FOR A LEVEL OF STEADY ACTIVISM,
       COMMISSIONER STRENIO TELLS AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION


     Federal Trade Commissioner Andrew J. Strenio Jr. today said
that the FTC should "strive for a level of steady activism,"
noting that in the past the agency "repeatedly has been buffeted
by Congressional explosions generated by extremes of agency
activity or inactivity."
     "Each explosion causes extensive reactions at the agency,
and moves the FTC toward the other extreme.  Then the cycle
starts all over again," he told the American Bar Association.
     This "level of steady activism" might also be called a
dynamic equilibrium, he noted.  "Attaining and maintaining a
dynamic equilibrium requires that the agency grow and change,
neither lagging too far behind nor rushing too far ahead of what
the times demand and allow."
     Commissioner Strenio also suggested that the Commission
"should embark upon a series of targeted hearings, such as the
recently completed hearing on consumer problems of older
Americans."  He mentioned four subject areas the Commission might
look at.
     First, "it is time to reassess the role of the FTC with an
eye to the remainder of the century.  We should conduct a review
of the FTC's existence over the past 75 years that distills
wisdom from the accumulated experience and provides direction for
the future," Strenio said.
     Second, the FTC "could make a major contribution to the
resolution of several raging controversies by providing a forum
for dispassionate, factual examinations" of the issues.  Topics
for this category might include resale price maintenance and the
extent of consumer fraud.
     A third subject area might be "market failures that create a
need for stronger regulation."  The Commission "frequently has
commented upon government regulation that hurts consumers and
competition," but needs to look in the other direction, too, he
said.  For example, the Commission might look at consolidation
trends in the airline industry.
     Finally, Strenio said, "it is time to reexamine federalism
and redefine the relationship between the states and the FTC.
Particularly in light of recent developments, such as the larger
role of the states in antitrust and consumer protection law
enforcement, it is necessary to discuss these issues in a
systematic fashion."

                             (More)
     Copies of the Commissioner's speech are available from the
FTC's Public Reference Branch, Room 130, 6th St. and Pennsylvania
Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580; 202-326-2222; TTY 202-326-
2502.

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MEDIA CONTACT:     Susan Ticknor, Office of Public Affairs,
                   202-326-2181

(Strenio1)