Skip to main content
HR 1504 101th Congress House

Beeper Abuse Prevention Act of 1989

Official title: To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission to prescribe rules to prevent possession of beepers and pagers by pers… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission to prescribe rules to prevent possession of beepers and pagers by persons under 21 years of age, and for other purposes.

Introduced: April 26, 1989 Introduced by: Mfume, Kweisi Democratic · Maryland See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics Equipment and suppliesTelephoneYouth
This bill died when the 101st Congress ended
It never became law before the 101st Congress (1989–1990) 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 27, 1989
Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance.
Mar 20, 1989
Introduced in House
Mar 20, 1989
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
 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.

 Latest action March 27, 1989

Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Beeper Abuse Prevention Act of 1989 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to direct the Federal Communications Commission to prescribe regulations to prevent the sale or rental to, or possession by, persons under 21 years of age of paging devices (beepers), except that such regulations shall permit: (1) parents or guardians to allow their children to possess and use such devices under supervision; and (2) a business enterprise to allow its employees under age 21 to possess and use such devices while carrying out a lawful business activity under the supervision of such enterprise.

Provides that such regulations shall require: (1) persons engaged in sales or rentals of such devices to verify the identification and age of each person to whom such a device is sold or rented; and (2) parents or guardians who intend to permit their children to use such devices, or any business enterprises that intend to permit employees under age 21 to use such devices to disclose that information at the time of the purchase or rental.

Outlines penalties for violations of such regulations. Authorizes the Commission to bring an action in any district court of the United States to enforce such regulations.

Directs the Commission, no later than two years after the enactment of this Act, to report to the Congress on the enforcement of its provisions.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1504: Beeper Abuse Prevention Act of 1989. 101st Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-1504/
MLA
"H.R. 1504: Beeper Abuse Prevention Act of 1989." 101st Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-1504/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1504, 101st Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-1504/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1504: Beeper Abuse Prevention Act of 1989](https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-1504/)
Report a problem