Ask AI
H.R. 971Became Law

Telephone Operator Consumer Services Improvement Act of 1990

Telephone Operator Consumer Services Improvement Act of 1990 - Requires each provider of telephone operator services to: (1) identify itself to the telephone user at the beginning of each telephone call and before the user is charged for such call; (2) permit the customer to terminate the call at no charge before the call is connected; (3) make certain disclosures immediately to the customer concerning rates and charges; (4) ensure that persons that make telephones available to customers on business premises for interstate telephone calls using a provider of operator services (aggregators) are in compliance with certain requirements concerning the posting of notice and information relating to such provider; (5) withhold payments of compensation to aggregators that block access by an 800 or 950 number to interstate common carriers or that block access to equal access codes; (6) not bill for unanswered telephone calls or calls that do not reflect the origin of the call; and (7) not engage in "call splashing" (the transfer of telephone calls between providers of telephone services in such a way that the subsequent provider of the service is unable or unwilling to determine the location of the origin of the call). Outlines additional requirements to be followed by providers of telephone operator services for the first three years after enactment of this Act, as well as requirements for aggregators.

Requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to prescribe regulations to: (1) protect consumers from unfair and deceptive practices relating to their use of operator services to place interstate telephone calls; and (2) ensure that consumers have the opportunity to make informed choices in making such calls.

Requires the FCC to require: (1) each aggregator to ensure that each such telephone allows the consumer to obtain access to the provider of operator services desired by the customer through the use of an equal access code; or (2) providers of operator services to make available to their customers an 800 or 950 access code number for use in making operator service calls from anywhere in the United States. Requires the FCC to consider the need to prescribe compensation for owners of competitive public pay telephones for calls routed to providers of operator services other than the presubscribed provider of operator services for such telephone. Requires any telephone equipment manufactured or imported and installed more than 18 months after enactment of this Act to be technologically capable of providing consumers with access to providers of telephone operator services through the use of equal access codes.

Requires providers of telephone operator services to file and update regularly an informational tariff specifying rates charged to customers for telephone access and use. Allows the FCC to waive such requirements after four years after enactment of this Act under certain conditions. Authorizes the FCC to review such informational tariffs and initiate appropriate proceedings to determine whether regulatory objectives are being achieved in specific cases. Requires the FCC to: (1) submit reports on its findings; and (2) establish implementing regulations unless it determines that market forces are securing just and reasonable charges.

Became Public Law No: 101-435.

Rep. Cooper, Jim [D-TN-4](D-TN)Sponsor
33 cosponsors28 D5 R
33cosponsors2committees38actions2related bills12subjects
  1. PresidentE40000

    Became Public Law No: 101-435.

  2. BecameLaw36000

    Became Public Law No: 101-435.

  3. PresidentE30000

    Signed by President.

  4. BecameLaw36000

    Signed by President.

  5. FloorE20000

    Presented to President.

  6. President28000

    Presented to President.

  7. Floor

    Measure Signed in Senate.

  8. Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  9. ResolvingDifferencesH41931

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  10. ResolvingDifferencesH41610

    On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection.

  11. NotUsed19500

    Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection.

  12. ResolvingDifferencesH40100

    Mr. Markey asked unanimous consent that the House agree to the Senate amendment.

  13. Floor

    Passed Senate in lieu of S. 1660 with an amendment by Voice Vote.

  14. Floor17000

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate in lieu of S. 1660 with an amendment by Voice Vote.

  15. Floor

    Senate struck all after the Enacting Clause and substituted the language of S. 1660 amended.

  16. Floor

    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

  17. Discharge

    Senate Committee on Commerce discharged by Unanimous Consent.

    Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
  18. Committee14500

    Senate Committee on Commerce discharged by Unanimous Consent.

    Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
  19. IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate and read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.

    Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
  20. FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  21. FloorH37300

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

  22. Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

  23. FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.

  24. CalendarsH30310

    The chair announced that a second on the motion to suspend the rules is not required.

  25. FloorH30000

    Considered under suspension of the rules.

  26. FloorH30300

    Mr. Markey moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  27. CalendarsH12410

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 135.

  28. CommitteeH12200

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 101-213.

    Energy and Commerce Committee
  29. Committee5000

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 101-213.

    Energy and Commerce Committee
  30. CommitteeH15000-B

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Energy and Commerce Committee
  31. CommitteeH19000

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended).

    Energy and Commerce Committee
  32. CommitteeH22000

    Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Telecommunications and Finance Subcommittee
  33. CommitteeH23000

    Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended).

    Telecommunications and Finance Subcommittee
  34. CommitteeH21000

    Subcommittee Hearings Held.

    Telecommunications and Finance Subcommittee
  35. CommitteeH11000

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance.

    Telecommunications and Finance Subcommittee
  36. IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

    Energy and Commerce Committee
  37. IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  38. IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Oct 1, 199035

Telephone Operator Consumer Services Improvement Act of 1990 - Requires each provider of telephone operator services to: (1) identify itself to the telephone user at the beginning of each telephone call and before the user is charged for such call; (2) permit the customer to terminate the call at no charge before the call is connected; (3) make certain disclosures immediately to the customer concerning rates and charges; (4) ensure that persons that make telephones available to customers on business premises for interstate telephone calls using a provider of operator services (aggregators) are in compliance with certain requirements concerning the posting of notice and information relating to such provider; (5) withhold payments of compensation to aggregators that block access by an 800 or 950 number to interstate common carriers or that block access to equal access codes; (6) not bill for unanswered telephone calls or calls that do not reflect the origin of the call; and (7) not engage in "call splashing" (the transfer of telephone calls between providers of telephone services in such a way that the subsequent provider of the service is unable or unwilling to determine the location of the origin of the call). Outlines additional requirements to be followed by providers of telephone operator services for the first three years after enactment of this Act, as well as requirements for aggregators.

Requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to prescribe regulations to: (1) protect consumers from unfair and deceptive practices relating to their use of operator services to place interstate telephone calls; and (2) ensure that consumers have the opportunity to make informed choices in making such calls.

Requires the FCC to require: (1) each aggregator to ensure that each such telephone allows the consumer to obtain access to the provider of operator services desired by the customer through the use of an equal access code; or (2) providers of operator services to make available to their customers an 800 or 950 access code number for use in making operator service calls from anywhere in the United States. Requires the FCC to consider the need to prescribe compensation for owners of competitive public pay telephones for calls routed to providers of operator services other than the presubscribed provider of operator services for such telephone. Requires any telephone equipment manufactured or imported and installed more than 18 months after enactment of this Act to be technologically capable of providing consumers with access to providers of telephone operator services through the use of equal access codes.

Requires providers of telephone operator services to file and update regularly an informational tariff specifying rates charged to customers for telephone access and use. Allows the FCC to waive such requirements after four years after enactment of this Act under certain conditions. Authorizes the FCC to review such informational tariffs and initiate appropriate proceedings to determine whether regulatory objectives are being achieved in specific cases. Requires the FCC to: (1) submit reports on its findings; and (2) establish implementing regulations unless it determines that market forces are securing just and reasonable charges.

Sep 25, 198936

Telephone Operator Service Consumer Protection Act of 1989 - Directs the Federal Communications Commission to initiate, within 30 days, a proceeding under the Communications Act of 1934 to establish regulations to protect from unfair and deceptive practices consumers who use operator services to place interstate telephone calls and to ensure that consumers have the opportunity to make informed choices in making such calls.

Provides for the timing and content of such regulations, including certain minimum requirements. Directs the Commission, in making the regulations, to consider the need to prescribe compensation, other than advance payment by consumers, for owners of competitive public pay telephones for calls routed to carriers other than the designated provider of operator services.

Directs the Commission to require each provider of operator service to file an informational tariff specifying rates, terms, and conditions with respect to calls for which operator services are provided.

Directs the Commission to require any provider whose rates and charges appear unjust or unreasonable to demonstrate that its rates and charges are just and reasonable.

Directs the Commission to: (1) initiate a proceeding examining specified aspects of service and report to the Congress; and (2) unless the Commission finds that market forces are securing rates and charges that are just and reasonable, establish regulations requiring that rates and charges for operator services be just and reasonable.

Aug 3, 198917

Telephone Operator Service Consumer Protection Act of 1989 - Directs the Federal Communications Commission to initiate, within 30 days, a proceeding under the Communications Act of 1934 to establish regulations to protect from unfair and deceptive practices consumers who use operator services to place interstate telephone calls and to ensure that consumers have the opportunity to make informed choices in making such calls.

Provides for the timing and content of such regulations, including certain minimum requirements. Directs the Commission, in making the regulations, to consider the need to prescribe compensation, other than advance payment by consumers, for owners of competitive public pay telephones for calls routed to carriers other than the designated provider of operator services.

Directs the Commission to require each provider of operator service to file an informational tariff specifying rates, terms, and conditions with respect to calls for which operator services are provided.

Directs the Commission to require any provider whose rates and charges appear unjust or unreasonable to demonstrate that its rates and charges are just and reasonable.

Directs the Commission to: (1) initiate a proceeding examining specified aspects of service and report to the Congress; and (2) unless the Commission finds that market forces are securing rates and charges that are just and reasonable, establish regulations requiring that rates and charges for operator services be just and reasonable.

Feb 9, 198900

Telephone Operator Service Consumer Protection Act of 1989 - Directs the Federal Communications Commission to initiate, within 30 days, a proceeding under the Communications Act of 1934 to establish regulations to protect from unfair and deceptive practices consumers who use operator services to place interstate telephone calls and to ensure that consumers have the opportunity to make informed choices in making such calls.

Provides for the timing and content of such regulations, including certain minimum requirements.