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HR 3402 110th Congress House Science, Technology, Communications Civil actions and liability Commerce Consumer education Consumer protection Fees Government Operations and Politics Injunctions Law Parties to actions Restrictive trade practices Telecommunication industry Telecommunication rates Telephone Wireless communication

Calling Card Consumer Protection Act

Introduced: August 3, 2007 See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 16 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 2, 2008
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Sep 26, 2008
Received in the Senate.
Sep 25, 2008
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Sep 25, 2008
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H9935-9936)
Sep 25, 2008
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H9935-9936)
Sep 25, 2008
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3402.
Sep 25, 2008
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9935-9938)
Sep 25, 2008
Mr. Rush moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Sep 23, 2008
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Sep 23, 2008
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Sep 16, 2008
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .
Sep 16, 2008
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Aug 3, 2007
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.
Aug 3, 2007
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Aug 3, 2007
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR 8/4/2007 E1764-1765)
Aug 3, 2007
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Calling Card Consumer Protection Act - (Sec. 3) Requires providers or distributors of prepaid calling cards, including cards that use interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) or a successor protocol, to clearly and conspicuously disclose information about: (1) the provider's name, customer service number, and hours of service; (2) the card's number of minutes or dollar value; (3) per minute rates or a toll-free number to obtain rates; (4) fees and charges; (5) time period limits, any predetermined decrease in value over a period of time, and expiration dates; and (6) refund and recharge policies.

(Sec. 4) Treats a violation as an unfair or deceptive act or practice under the Federal Trade Commission Act and requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to enforce this Act. Gives the FTC, for this Act, jurisdiction over common carriers subject to the Communications Act of 1934, notwithstanding any other provision of law.

(Sec. 5) Allows civil enforcement actions to be brought, except when an FTC action is pending, by a state attorney general, a state utilities commission, or a consumer protection agency for an injunction, to enforce this Act, to obtain damages, restitution, or other compensation on behalf of state residents, or for other relief. Allows actions under state laws.

Shields a distributor who is a retail seller of prepaid cards and who, with respect to such cards, is exclusively engaged in point-of-sale transactions from liability for damages unless the distributor acted with actual knowledge that the act or practice giving rise to the action is unfair or deceptive and is unlawful under this Act.

(Sec. 7) Prohibits a state, after final regulations are promulgated under this Act, from establishing or continuing in effect any provision of law that prescribes prepaid card disclosure requirements unless those requirements are identical to those in this Act.

(Sec. 8) Requires the Comptroller General to report to Congress on the effectiveness of this Act and its required disclosures.

What's happening now October 2, 2008

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Democratic 1