Regulations, Rules, and Agency Guidance
Some statutes direct agencies like the FTC or FCC to issue regulations carrying compliance force - e.g., CAN-SPAM rules on the opt-out mechanism. Agencies also issue formal opinions and informal guidance that signal priorities without the full weight of law.
Some federal laws require agencies such as the FTC or FCC to issue regulations and rules that place specific compliance expectations on the marketplace. For example, CAN-SPAM (2003) requires senders of commercial email to offer an opt-out, and authorizes the FTC and FCC to set exactly how the opt-out must be offered and managed.
Formal agency opinions guide interpretation but do not necessarily carry the weight of law. Even less formal channels - reports, websites, testimony, conference speeches - reveal the agency's mindset and enforcement priorities rather than explicit requirements.