---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 C.F.R. § 1020.4"
title: "16"
number: "1020.4"
heading: "What is the Small Business Program?"
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/16/1020.4"
---

# §1020.4. What is the Small Business Program?

- (a) Whenever the Commission is aware of the interests of small businesses, it will consider those interests before taking any action that will likely have a significant effect on small businesses.
- (b) Small businesses may request and receive special assistance from the Commission, as appropriate and consistent with Commission resources. Examples of such assistance are:
  - (1) Small businesses may contact the Small Business Ombudsman to obtain information about Commission statutes, regulations, or programs; to obtain technical assistance; to determine who in the agency has particular expertise that might be helpful to the small business; or to help expedite a small business's request.
  - (2) Small businesses may request assistance from the Commission by using the small business extension on the Commission's hotline telephone system. The number is 1-800-638-2772, extension 234.
  - (3) The Small Business Ombudsman will directly provide small businesses with the requested assistance, or will direct the small business to the appropriate Commission staff for help.
- (c) Whenever the Commission issues a final regulatory flexibility analysis for a rule, under the Regulatory Flexibility Act ([5 U.S.C. 604](/usc/5/604.md)), the Commission will publish a compliance guide for small businesses. The guide will explain in easy-to-understand language what action a small business must take to comply with the rule.
- (d) The Commission may take other appropriate actions to assist small businesses, but such actions will not treat any other Commission constituent unfairly.

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 601 note.

### Source

Source: 61 FR 52878, Oct. 9, 1996, unless otherwise noted.