Intel said late today that it has been notified by the Federal Trade Commission of an investigation into its business practices - the second time the chipmaker has undergone such scrutiny in the 1990s.
The commission did not immediately elaborate on the action. In a statement, Intel promised "full cooperation" with the inquiry.
Spokesman Chuck Mulloy said that Wednesday afternoon Intel received "a very general subpoena stating that Intel is being investigated for unfair and deceptive practices or acts in violation of the Federal Trade Commission Act. These cover such things as monopolistic activities, price competition, non-competitive pricing.
"....We need to sit down with our lawyers to see what all they're asking for - the FTC is asking for a wide range of documents."
Mulloy noted the 1991-93 FTC investigation, which was closed with a finding that the company had engaged in no wrongdoing, and said it had a lasting impact on the way Intel conducts its business.
"Intel had put in place a compliance program to make sure our employees were trained in practices that were in keeping with federal law," Mulloy said. "The success that Intel has had over the years has made us more visible. This high visibility heightens the scrutiny on the company."
