Skip to main content
HR 1786 100th Congress House Government Operations and Politics Communications and Broadcasting Crime prevention Pornography Telephone

Telephone Decency Act

Introduced: March 25, 1987 See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 100th Congress ended
It never became law before the 100th Congress (1987–1988) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 28, 1988
See H.R.5.
Sep 30, 1987
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Apr 2, 1987
Referred to Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance.
Mar 25, 1987
Referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Mar 25, 1987
Introduced in House
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Telephone Decency Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit any obscene or indecent telephone communication, in foreign or interstate communication or in the District of Columbia, for commercial purposes to any person. (Current law prohibits such communication to any person without his or her consent or to any person under 18 years of age.)

What's happening now April 28, 1988

See H.R.5.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 5 Related bill Augustus F. Hawkins-Robert T. Stafford Elementary and Secondary School Improvement Amendments of 1988
 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 4
All 4 Democratic 2 Republican 2
D
Mfume, Kweisi
Maryland · Feb 3, 1988
 D
Wyden, Ron
Oregon · Dec 21, 1987
 R
Rogers, Harold
Kentucky · Mar 25, 1987
 R
Smith, Christopher H.
New Jersey · Mar 25, 1987
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1786: Telephone Decency Act. 100th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-1786/
MLA
"H.R. 1786: Telephone Decency Act." 100th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-1786/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1786, 100th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-1786/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1786: Telephone Decency Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-1786/)
Report a problem