United States · Bill · S
S. 1579 (102nd)
900 Services Consumer Protection Act of 1991
Introduced
29 July 1991
Last action
8 October 1992 · Floor
Status
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Sponsors
Sen. Inouye, Daniel K. [D-HI], Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ], Sen. Hollings, Ernest F. [D-SC], Sen. Danforth, John C. [R-MO], Sen. Ford, Wendell H. [D-KY], Sen. Gore, Albert, Jr. [D-TN], Sen. Simon, Paul [D-IL], Sen. Bryan, Richard H. [D-NV], Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA], Sen. Jeffords, James M. [I-VT], Sen. Mikulski, Barbara A. [D-MD], Sen. Pressler, Larry [R-SD], Sen. Burns, Conrad R. [R-MT], Sen. Fowler, Wyche, Jr. [D-GA], Sen. Kohl, Herb [D-WI]
Subjects
Discovery layer
Source updated
14 January 2025
Summary
900 Services Consumer Protection Act of 1991 - Requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to initiate coordinated rulemaking proceedings to establish a consistent system for oversight and regulation of pay-per-call services in order to provide for the protection of consumers in accordance with this Act. Requires that the rules or regulations issued by the FTC require that a pay-per-call service: (1) describe the service and all charges in an introductory disclosure message; (2) enable the caller to hang up before the end of the introductory message without incurring any charge; (3) give repeat callers notice of any rate increases during the introductory message; (4) not be aimed at children under 12, unless it is an educational service; and (5) prohibit the use of a toll-free number under which a caller would be automatically connected to an access number for a pay-per-call service. Requires that the rules or regulations issued by the FCC include the following requirements for common carriers: (1) a common carrier which contracts with a provider of a pay-per-call service must make available on request a list of access numbers for each pay-per-call service it carries, a description of each service, a statement of charges, and other applicable information the FCC considers necessary; (2) a common carrier shall not disconnect a subscriber's local or long distance service because of nonpayment for any pay-per-call service; (3) a common carrier that provides local exchange service shall offer subscribers the option of blocking access to pay-per-call services; and (4) a common carrier that engages in billing and collection of charges for pay-per-call services shall offer subscribers the option of canceling charges for pay-per-call service in instances of unauthorized use or misunderstanding of such charges at the time of use, annually send to subscribers a specified disclosure statement, clearly separate pay-per-call services in any billing, have the right to recover the carrier's compliance costs, and stop the assessment of time-based charges upon disconnection by the caller. Requires the rules issued by the FTC to: (1) require any provider of a pay-per-call service to include in any advertisement specified information concerning charges; (2) require that whenever the number to be called is shown on television and print media advertisements the charges will be displayed clearly and conspicuously for the same duration that the number is displayed; (3) prohibit any pay-per-call service to emit tones during an advertisement that can automatically dial an access number; (4) require any telephone message soliciting calls to a pay-per-call service to clearly specify the charges; and (5) prohibit any person from advertising a toll-free telephone number from which a caller can or will be automatically connected to an access number for a pay-per-call number. Requires the FCC to consider adopting certain rules, including that a pay-per-call service: (1) automatically disconnect a caller after one full cycle of program; and (2) include a beep tone or other clear signal marking the passage of time. Specifies that nothing in this Act shall affect provisions of the Communications Act of 1934 concerning obscene or harassing phone calls. Sets forth provisions providing for enforcement of this Act, including: (1) criminal penalties and forfeiture penalties of the Communications Act of 1934; (2) penalties under the Federal Trade Commission Act; and (3) enforcement by States. Directs the FTC to conduct a study of and report to the Congress concerning the acquisition and use by pay-per-call providers of callers' telephone numbers.
This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.
Timeline
29 July 1991
Introduced
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.
Source: IntroReferral
29 July 1991
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Source: IntroReferral
30 July 1991
Reported
Committee on Commerce. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
Source: Committee
16 October 1991
Calendars
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 275.
Source: Calendars
16 October 1991
Reported
Committee on Commerce. Reported to Senate by Senator Hollings with amendments. With written report No. 102-190.
Source: Committee
16 October 1991
Reported
Committee on Commerce. Reported to Senate by Senator Hollings with amendments. With written report No. 102-190.
Source: Committee
29 October 1991
Floor
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
Source: Floor
29 October 1991
Passed
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Voice Vote.
Source: Floor
30 October 1991
Floor
Held at the desk.
Source: Floor
30 October 1991
Floor
Received in the House.
Source: Floor
30 October 1991
Floor
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Source: Floor
25 February 1992
Floor
A similar measure H.R. 3490 was laid on the table without objection.
Source: Floor
25 February 1992
Passed
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
25 February 1992
Passed
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
25 February 1992
Passed
On passage Passed without objection.
Source: Floor
25 February 1992
Passed
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.
Source: Floor
25 February 1992
Passed
The House struck all after the enacting clause and inserted in lieu thereof the provisions of a similar measure H.R. 3490. Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
25 February 1992
Floor
Mr. Vento asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table and consider.
Source: Floor
25 February 1992
Floor
Considered by unanimous consent.
Source: Floor
27 February 1992
Floor
Message on House action received in Senate and held at desk: House amendments to Senate bill.
Source: Floor
7 October 1992
ResolvingDifferences
Senate concurred in the House amendments with a substitute amendment by Voice Vote.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
7 October 1992
NotUsed
Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate concurred in the House amendments with a substitute amendment by Voice Vote.
Source: NotUsed
7 October 1992
Floor
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
Source: Floor
8 October 1992
Floor
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Source: Floor
Votes
No vote records are attached yet.
Versions
- Engrossed Amendment House · — · Download file
- Engrossed Amendment Senate · — · Download file
- Engrossed in Senate · — · Download file
- Introduced in Senate · — · Download file
- Reported to Senate · — · Download file
Documents
9 official files
Reported to Senate (text)
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Reported to Senate (text)
Reported to Senate · EN
Introduced in Senate (text)
Introduced in Senate · EN
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Engrossed in Senate (text)
Engrossed in Senate · EN
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Engrossed Amendment Senate (text)
Engrossed Amendment Senate · EN
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Engrossed Amendment House (text)
Engrossed Amendment House · EN
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Senate agreed to House amendment with amendment
summary · EN · 7 October 1992
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Passed House amended
summary · EN · 25 February 1992
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Passed Senate amended
summary · EN · 29 October 1991
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Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 29 July 1991
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Sponsors
- Sen. Inouye, Daniel K. [D-HI] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Hollings, Ernest F. [D-SC] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Danforth, John C. [R-MO] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Ford, Wendell H. [D-KY] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Gore, Albert, Jr. [D-TN] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Simon, Paul [D-IL] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Bryan, Richard H. [D-NV] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Jeffords, James M. [I-VT] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Mikulski, Barbara A. [D-MD] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Pressler, Larry [R-SD] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Burns, Conrad R. [R-MT] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Fowler, Wyche, Jr. [D-GA] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Kohl, Herb [D-WI] · D · Cosponsor
- · sscm00 · Standing
Related records
- related to → Telephone Disclosure and Dispute Resolution Act
- amends ← To amend the definition of the term "pay-per-call service", and for other purposes.
- amends ← To require a proposal for demonstrating the potential of innovative communications equipment and services.
- amends ← In the nature of substitute.
- amends ← To provide for the protection of cellular telecommunications.
- amends ← To provide an exemption from chapter 61 of title 18, USC, to permit certain radio and television advertising.
- amends ← To provide for a study of security features for analog and digital radio signals, and for other purposes.
Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/102nd-congress/senate-bill/1579
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/102/s/1579
- us · 102-s-1579 · source updated 14 January 2025