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HR 4017 100th Congress House

Telecommunications Billing Disclosure Act of 1988

Official title: A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require the disclosure of billing amounts and practices by providers of message services, and for other purposes.

Introduced: February 25, 1988 See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics Communications and BroadcastingConsumer protectionCrime and Law EnforcementTelephoneTelephone rates
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 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 16, 1988
Referred to Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance.
Feb 25, 1988
Referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Feb 25, 1988
Introduced in House
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 Latest action March 16, 1988

Referred to Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Telecommunications Billing Disclosure Act of 1988 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to make it unlawful for any person to charge for a voice communication by telephone: (1) unless it is preceded by a disclosure of billing charges and practices and the fee meets the description offered in the disclosure; or (2) if the potential recipient ends the call within a required warning interval of at least ten seconds. Makes it unlawful, in addition, to knowingly permit one's telephone facility to be used in either of these prohibited billing contexts.

Lists criteria to be met by the required disclosure of billing rates and practices.

Makes violators liable to aggrieved parties and establishes authorized penalties in connection with resulting suits.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4017: Telecommunications Billing Disclosure Act of 1988. 100th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-4017/
MLA
"H.R. 4017: Telecommunications Billing Disclosure Act of 1988." 100th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-4017/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4017, 100th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-4017/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4017: Telecommunications Billing Disclosure Act of 1988](https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-4017/)
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