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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 328 (102nd)

Telephone Consumer Assistance Act

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

3 January 1991

Last action

28 February 1991 · Committee

Status

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

Sponsors

Rep. Gordon, Bart [D-TN-6], Rep. Stark, Fortney Pete [D-CA-13], Rep. Frank, Barney [D-MA-4], Rep. Lloyd, Marilyn [D-TN-3], Rep. Patterson, Elizabeth [D-SC-4], Rep. Livingston, Bob [R-LA-1], Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA], Rep. Costello, Jerry F. [D-IL-12], Rep. Regula, Ralph [R-OH-16], Rep. Pickett, Owen B. [D-VA-2], Rep. Serrano, Jose E. [D-NY-15], Rep. Lowey, Nita M. [D-NY-17], Rep. Dwyer, Bernard J. [D-NJ-6], Rep. Tallon, Robert M. (Robin) [D-SC-6], Rep. Frost, Martin [D-TX-24], Rep. Skeen, Joe [R-NM-2], Rep. Ravenel, Arthur, Jr. [R-SC-1], Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR], Rep. Lancaster, H. Martin [D-NC-3], Rep. Slattery, Jim [D-KS-2], Rep. Nowak, Henry [D-NY-33], Rep. Olin, James R. [D-VA-6], Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9], Rep. Mrazek, Robert J. [D-NY-3], Rep. Bilbray, James H. [D-NV-1], Rep. Clinger, William F., Jr. [R-PA-5], Rep. Johnson, Nancy L. [R-CT-5], Rep. Dannemeyer, William E. [R-CA-39], Rep. Bereuter, Doug [R-NE-1], Rep. Murtha, John P. [D-PA-12], Rep. Kleczka, Gerald D. [D-WI-4], Rep. Hochbrueckner, George J. [D-NY-1], Del. Faleomavaega, Eni F. H. [D-AS-At Large], Rep. Brown, George E., Jr. [D-CA-42], Rep. Espy, Mike [D-MS-2], Rep. Conte, Silvio O. [R-MA-1], Rep. Gejdenson, Sam [D-CT-2], Rep. Shays, Christopher [R-CT-4], Rescom. Fuster, Jamie B. [D-PR-At Large], Rep. Bruce, Terry L. [D-IL-19], Rep. Clement, Bob [D-TN-5], Rep. Johnston, Harry [D-FL-19], Rep. Schiff, Steven [R-NM-1], Rep. Payne, Donald M. [D-NJ-10], Rep. English, Glenn [D-OK-6], Rep. Martin, David O'B. [R-NY-26], Rep. Lagomarsino, Robert J. [R-CA-19], Rep. AuCoin, Les [D-OR-1]

Subjects

Taxation

Source updated

26 August 2025

Taxation

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

Telephone Consumer Assistance Act - Directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish a system to regulate audiotext services to protect consumers. Prohibits interstate telecommunications carriers from carrying audiotext services that fail to include: (1) specified disclosure messages describing the service, cost, and option to hang up; (2) a requirement that any bypass mechanism allowing frequent callers to avoid listening to the disclosure message be disabled after any significant price change; (3) equipment that stops the assessment of charges upon disconnection, automatically disconnects after one cycle of the program, and automatically disconnects interactive programs if no activity occurs within a specified time period; and (4) arrangements with local exchange carriers to prohibit disconnection of telephone service because of nonpayment of audiotext charges. Requires such carriers to: (1) grant callers the option to avoid audiotext charges caused by unauthorized use or misunderstanding of the charges applied; (2) offer callers the option of blocking access to audiotext services; (3) include a signal alerting callers to the passage of time; (4) establish a toll-free telephone number to answer questions and provide information on callers' rights and obligations with respect to such services and to provide the names and addresses of audiotext providers for which such callers have been customers; (5) include a specified disclosure statement to telephone subscribers; (6) state the charges for audiotext services in a separate section of the bill; (7) notify the appropriate State regulatory commission of the intent to provide audiotext services in the State and make available all audiotext access numbers; and (8) obtain from audiotext providers that solicit charitable contributions proof of the tax-exempt status of the person or organization for which such contributions are solicited. Sets forth requirements concerning advertising for audiotext services. Directs the Secretary of Commerce, through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, to study the use by audiotext providers of technologies that permit the identification of callers' telephone numbers to generate, compile, and sell or lease lists of such numbers. Requires the Secretary to report the results of such study to the FCC and the Congress, together with any recommendations to prevent abuses in the use of such technologies.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 3 January 1991

    Introduced

    Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 3 January 1991

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 3 January 1991

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 11 February 1991

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance.

    Source: Committee

  5. 28 February 1991

    Committee

    Subcommittee Hearings Held.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

2 official files

Introduced in House (text)

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  • Introduced in House (text)

    Introduced in House · EN

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

  • Introduced in House

    summary · EN · 3 January 1991

    Open at official source

    Leesvertaling

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Sponsors

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Related records

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Sources

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