[Ecommerce] Deadline for barriers comments extended to 24 April 00

[Ed Mierzwinski]

This is a copy of a previous post-- this docket on "Barriers to E-Commerce"
has
been extended to 24 April (apparently an absolute deadline.)  As far as I
know,
only the National Consumer Law Center and the Consumer Federation of America
have so far filed joint consumer group comments, with emphasis in those
comments on concerns of lower-income Americans. A number of state AGs have
filed jointly, and the North Dakota AG has filed supplemental comments as well
as signing on to those. 

We need to get some more comments up as to why consumers need strong laws to
protect them in the brave new world of the Internet. I know that Susan
Grant of
NCL will be drafting a set. I encourage as many groups as possible to consider
using those as a template and sending your own version (for greater impact) or
signing on.

 See all comments filed to date at <http://www.ecommerce.gov/ebarriers/review>
Not surprisingly, most business comments I glanced at refer to their typical
mantras of "HR 1714 (electornic signatures) now", "uniform," "national," and
"UETA without California exceptions."

>From the <http://www.ecommerce.gov> web site: "Comments may be submitted
via the
Web at <http://www.ecommerce.gov/ebarriers/respond>. Alternatively, electronic
submissions may be sent as documents attached to E-mail messages addressed to
<ebarriers@ita.doc.gov>." [At least one member of these lists has suggested
that
the email address works more easily than the online form, which is all I
referred to below in my original post.]
Ed Mierzwinski [original post follows]

TO: Privacy and Consumer Groups
FR: Ed Mierzwinski
RE: Comments sought on barriers to electronic commerce.
2 Mar 00

Today, the Chair of the US Government Working Group on Electronic Commerce,
David Beier, [Chief Domestic Policy Advisor for the Vice President], asked
Pamela Gilbert of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, [a member of
the
working group and former USPIRG and Public Citizen staffer], to contact
consumer groups and urge them to consider filing comments before 17 March on
"barriers to electronic commerce." I told Pamela I would forward a note to all
the groups and individuals I know that are working on this matter. I apologize
in advance for cross-postings. [I am posting to the Markey-Shelby list, the
TACD list, and Jamie's list. Feel free to post to other groups.] International
groups and friends, I hope they would be interested in your views, too.

Mr. Beier and the WG are specifically interested in consumer group views on
all
aspects of the issue, especially since we might have views about
**maintaining** some perceived barriers, because they are actually consumer
protections. Comments are due by 17 March, although it is possible that since
these are comments to a working group, rather than to a formal rulemaking,
late
filings would be acceptable. Here are three web addresses:

The Working group page-- with links to all US govt e-commerce projects.
<www.ecommerce.gov> 

The barriers comments home page--
<http://osecnt13.osec.doc.gov/ecommerce/barriers.nsf> 

Jump right to the on-line comments pages--
<http://www.ecommerce.gov/ebarriers/respond>

Here is an excerpt:
"To implement these objectives, the President mandated that the United States
Government Working Group on Electronic Commerce: (1) identify laws and
regulations that impose barriers to the growth of electronic commerce, and (2)
recommend how these laws and regulations should be revised to facilitate the
development of electronic commerce, while ensuring that protection of the
public interest (including consumer protection) is equivalent to that provided
with respect to offline commerce. The President mandated that the Commerce
Department lead a subgroup to implement this work, and the Subgroup on Legal
Barriers to Electronic Commerce has been formed to carry out those
responsibilities.
The President directed the Subgroup to invite the public to participate in
this
effort by identifying laws or regulations that may obstruct, hinder or
discriminate against electronic commerce, including those that should be
modified on a priority basis. The Subgroup was also charged with inviting
public comment on how such laws and regulations could be adapted to the
electronic environment while ensuring that public interest protections will be
equivalent to those now provided in offline commerce. This Notice and Request
for Comment implements those directives."