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On December 18, 2020, the Commission initiated periodic review of the Amplifier Rule (officially the Trade Regulation Rule Concerning Power Output Claims for Amplifiers Utilized in Home Entertainment Products) as part of the Commission's systematic review of all current Commission rules and guides. 85 FR 82391 (Dec. 18, 2020). The Commission sought comments on, among other things, the economic impact and benefits of this rule; possible conflict between the rule and State, local, or other Federal laws or regulations; and the effect on the rule of any technological, economic, or other industry changes. The comment period closed on February 16, 2021, and staff is reviewing the public comments.

Promulgated in 1974, the Rule assists consumers in purchasing power amplification equipment for home entertainment purposes by standardizing the measurement and disclosure of various performance characteristics of the equipment. The Amplifier Rule establishes uniform test standards and disclosures so that consumers can make more meaningful comparisons of performance attributes. The Rule makes it an unfair or deceptive act or practice for manufacturers and sellers of sound power amplification equipment for home entertainment purposes to fail to disclose certain performance information in connection with direct or indirect representations of power output, power band, frequency, or distortion characteristics. The Rule also sets out standard test conditions for performing the measurements that support the required performance disclosures. Further, the Rule prohibits representations of performance characteristics if they are not obtainable when the equipment is operated by the consumer in the usual and ordinary manner without the use of extraneous aids.