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HR 5671 101th Congress House

Telephone Consumer Assistance Act

Official title: To protect the public interest by providing for regulation and oversight of the development and application of the technology known as audiotext, and for other purposes.

Introduced: October 1, 1990 See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics Administrative procedureConsumer educationRestrictive trade practicesTelephone
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
Oct 8, 1990
Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance.
Sep 19, 1990
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Sep 19, 1990
Introduced in House
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 Latest action October 8, 1990

Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Telephone Consumer Assistance Act - Directs the Federal Communications Commission to establish a system to regulate audiotext services to protect consumers.

Prohibits interstate telecommunications carriers from carrying audiotext services that fail to include: (1) specified disclosure messages describing the service, cost, and option to hang up; (2) a requirement that any bypass mechanism allowing frequent callers to avoid listening to the disclosure message be disabled after any significant price change; (3) equipment that stops the assessment of charges upon disconnection, automatically disconnects after one cycle of the program, and automatically disconnects interactive programs if no activity occurs within a specified time period; and (4) arrangements with local exchange carriers to prohibit disconnection of telephone service because of nonpayment of audiotext charges.

Requires such carriers to: (1) grant callers the option to avoid audiotext charges caused by unauthorized use or misunderstanding of the charges applied; (2) offer callers the option of blocking access to audiotext services; (3) include a signal alerting callers to the passage of time; (4) establish a toll-free telephone number to answer questions and provide information on callers' rights and obligations with respect to such services; (5) include a specified disclosure statement to telephone subscribers; and (6) notify the appropriate State regulatory commission of the intent to provide audiotext services in the State and make available all audiotext access numbers.

Sets forth requirements concerning advertising for audiotext services.

 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. 5671: Telephone Consumer Assistance Act. 101st Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-5671/
MLA
"H.R. 5671: Telephone Consumer Assistance Act." 101st Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-5671/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5671, 101st Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-5671/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5671: Telephone Consumer Assistance Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-5671/)
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