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HR 2131 101th Congress House

Automated Telephone Solicitation Protection Act of 1989

Official title: To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit certain practices in the use of automatic dialing devices, and for other purposes.

Introduced: July 20, 1989 See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics Constitutional lawConsumer protectionCrime and Law EnforcementTelemarketingTelephone
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 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 20, 1989
For Further Action See H.R.2021.
May 24, 1989
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
May 8, 1989
Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance.
Apr 26, 1989
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Apr 26, 1989
Introduced in House
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 Latest action July 20, 1989

For Further Action See H.R.2021.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Automated Telephone Solicitation Protection Act of 1989 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 with respect to automatic telephone dialing devices (telephone terminal equipment with the capacity to store or produce numbers, dial them, and deliver a prerecorded message without manual assistance). Makes it unlawful for any person in interstate or foreign communications to use such device for a telephone solicitation to a telephone customer unless: (1) the recorded message states the name and telephone number of the person initiating the call; (2) the dialer automatically terminates its connection within five seconds after the person called fails to give consent to the recorded message or hangs up his or her telephone; (3) the device does not make calls to any emergency phone numbers; or (4) the device is used only between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. States exceptions to such prohibition. States that a $5,000 limitation on certain forfeiture penalties under such Act does not apply to violations of such prohibition.

Requires the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Trade Commission to jointly study and report to the Congress on the practicality and constitutionality of a complete ban on the use of automatic dialing devices to deliver telephone solicitations.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2131: Automated Telephone Solicitation Protection Act of 1989. 101st Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-2131/
MLA
"H.R. 2131: Automated Telephone Solicitation Protection Act of 1989." 101st Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-2131/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2131, 101st Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-2131/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2131: Automated Telephone Solicitation Protection Act of 1989](https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-2131/)
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