900 Services Consumer Protection Act of 1991

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.

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Documents

9 official files

• Reported to Senate (text)

  Reported to Senate · EN

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• 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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• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 29 July 1991

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