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In May 2019, the Bureau issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), which would prescribe rules under Regulation F to govern the activities of debt collectors, as that term is defined under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).  The Bureau proposed, among other things, to address communications in connection with debt collection; interpret and apply prohibitions on harassment or abuse, false or misleading representations, and unfair practices in debt collection; and clarify requirements for certain consumer-facing debt collection disclosures.  The proposal built on the Bureau’s research and pre-rulemaking activities regarding the debt collection market, including convening a panel in August 2016 under the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) in conjunction with the Office of Management and Budget and the Small Business Administration’s Chief Counsel for Advocacy. The Bureau also engaged in testing of time-barred debt disclosures that were not addressed in the May 2019 proposed rule.  In early 2020, after completing the testing, the Bureau issued a supplemental NPRM related to time-barred debt disclosures.  In October 2020, the Bureau issued a final rule that focused primarily on debt collection communications and addressed a number of other topics, including imposing record retention requirements and prohibiting the sale or transfer of certain types of debt. In December 2020, the Bureau issued a final rule addressing disclosures related to the validation notice, requiring certain outreach by debt collectors before consumer reporting, and barring suits or threats of suit on time-barred debt. Both final rules are scheduled to take effect on November 30, 2021. In April 2021, in light of the continuation well into 2021 of the widespread societal disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bureau issued a NPRM to extend the effective date of both rules by 60 days and anticipates that its next action will be a final rule as to the effective date.