Help Shape CFTC Services: Give Feedback on Customer Experience

You might care about this because the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) wants your opinion. Specifically, its Office of Customer Education and Outreach (OCEO) is asking for public comments on how it collects feedback from people who use its services. This process, called an Information Collection Request (ICR), is being reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The CFTC is renewing a current approval that allows it to gather feedback about how well it serves the public. This is required by a government order that says federal agencies should provide service as good as, or better than, private companies. The goal is to understand what customers and other important groups think about the OCEO's programs. This helps the CFTC make sure its programs are useful and meet people's needs. The information collected includes opinions and ideas, but these are not formal, statistical surveys. The CFTC needs this feedback to improve its service delivery and ensure users have good experiences. They look for insights into what customers expect and what their experiences are like. This feedback can give an early warning about problems or highlight areas where better communication or operational changes are needed. This process helps the OCEO and its customers talk to each other and helps improve how programs are managed. The CFTC had a 60-day comment period before this notice and received no relevant comments. Now, there is another chance for the public to comment for 30 days. What makes this particularly interesting is the CFTC's commitment to continuous improvement in public service. Many government agencies collect feedback. The explicit mention of Executive Order 12862 highlights a direct instruction to match or exceed private sector service quality. This notice shows the CFTC is actively pursuing that goal. They are renewing a generic approval for feedback collection. This is not just a one-off survey. It is an ongoing, structured effort to gather qualitative feedback. This means it focuses on people's actual experiences and perceptions rather than just numbers. This approach allows the agency to get practical insights. It also emphasizes transparency and public involvement in government operations. By inviting comments on the feedback collection process itself, the CFTC is opening up its internal mechanisms for public scrutiny. This helps ensure that the methods used to gather opinions are effective and fair. The focus on 'early warning' of issues and improving 'communication, training or changes in operations' shows a proactive mindset. It suggests the CFTC uses this feedback to prevent problems and refine its services. This is important for an agency overseeing complex financial markets. You would be most interested in this document if you are a customer of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. This is especially true if you have interacted with their Office of Customer Education and Outreach (OCEO). This includes individuals who trade in futures or options markets. It also includes anyone seeking educational materials or guidance from the CFTC. Financial professionals, market participants, and educators who rely on CFTC resources might also find this relevant. If you are a consumer advocate or someone interested in government transparency and accountability, this notice provides an opportunity to influence how a federal agency listens to the public. Additionally, individuals involved in regulatory compliance or public administration might be interested in the mechanisms federal agencies use to assess and improve service delivery. Anyone concerned with the efficiency and responsiveness of government services, especially those related to financial markets, should pay attention. This is your chance to help shape how the CFTC interacts with and serves its public.