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HR 2921 101th Congress House

Telephone Advertising Regulation Act

Official title: To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit certain practices involving the use of telephone equipment for advertising and solicitation purposes.

Introduced: July 18, 1989 Introduced by: Markey, Edward J. Democratic · Massachusetts See on congress.gov
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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 23 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 26, 1990
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 1026.
Oct 26, 1990
Senate Committee on Commerce discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Aug 1, 1990
Received in the Senate and read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.
Jul 30, 1990
Considered as unfinished business.
Jul 30, 1990
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jul 30, 1990
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
Jul 30, 1990
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
Jul 30, 1990
DEBATE - Subsequently, pursuant to a unanimous consent agreement by Mr. Montgomery, the ordering of the yeas and nays was vacated and the question will be put to a voice vote.
Jul 30, 1990
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 5, rule I, the chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Jul 30, 1990
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.
Jul 30, 1990
On ordering a second Agreed to without objection.
Jul 30, 1990
Considered under suspension of the rules.
Jul 30, 1990
Mr. Ritter demanded a second on the motion to suspend the rules.
Jul 30, 1990
Mr. Markey moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Jul 27, 1990
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 392.
Jul 27, 1990
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 101-633.
May 15, 1990
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
May 15, 1990
Ordered to be Reported (Amended).
Jul 20, 1989
Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance.
Jul 20, 1989
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jul 20, 1989
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee.
Jul 18, 1989
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Jul 18, 1989
Introduced in House
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 Latest action October 26, 1990

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 1026.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Telephone Advertising Regulation Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the use of: (1) any telephone facsimile machine, computer, or other electronic device to send unsolicited advertisements to the machine of any person whose number is listed as that of a party who objects to the receipt of such unsolicited advertisements; (2) any automatic dialing system to make unsolicited calls to a party listed as objecting to such unsolicited calls, to emergency telephone lines, and to paging or cellular telephones; (3) any such machine, device, or system which does not comply with specified technical standards; and (4) a computer or other electronic device to send an unsolicited advertisement via a facsimile machine unless the person sending the advertisement notes the date and time it is sent and the identity and telephone number of the business initiating the message.

Requires the Federal Communications Commission to: (1) compare and evaluate alternative mechanisms for establishing a national clearinghouse to compile a list of telephone subscribers who have submitted objections; (2) make such list available; and (3) select the most cost effective means of carrying out this Act, while providing for the recovery of costs.

Directs each common carrier providing telephone exchange service to afford its subscribers the opportunity to provide notification of objections to the receipt of such unsolicited calls or advertisements.

Specifies that regulations under this Act shall include: (1) a delineation of methods by which a subscriber shall be informed by a common carrier of the right to give or revoke a notification of objections; (2) a prohibition against charging residential subscribers for giving or revoking such notification or for being carried on such list; and (3) a prohibition against the use of such list for purposes other than compliance with State or Federal law.

Sets forth technical and procedural standards for such systems. Exempts from such standards facsimile machines that do not have the capacity for automatic dialing and transmission and that are incapable of operation through an interface with a computer.

Authorizes States to impose more restrictive requirements or regulations with respect to such systems.

 Related & companion bills 2
  • HR 628 Procedurally related To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit certain practices involving commercial uses of automatic telephone …
  • HR 2184 Procedurally related Facsimile Advertising Regulation Act
 Bill text 6 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2921: Telephone Advertising Regulation Act. 101st Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-2921/
MLA
"H.R. 2921: Telephone Advertising Regulation Act." 101st Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-2921/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2921, 101st Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-2921/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2921: Telephone Advertising Regulation Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-2921/)
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