PRINTER'S NO. 1931
No. 1626 Session of 1989
INTRODUCED BY WESTON, KOSINSKI, MAIALE, HOWLETT, JACKSON,
ROBINSON, VEON, E. Z. TAYLOR, VROON, CALTAGIRONE, FOX,
JOHNSON, TRELLO, FREEMAN, FARMER, MILLER, J. TAYLOR, CESSAR,
MELIO, BELARDI AND COHEN, JUNE 5, 1989
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, JUNE 5, 1989
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, providing for recorded-message calls.
3 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
4 hereby enacts as follows:
5 Section 1. Title 66 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
6 Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
7 § 2906. Recorded-message calls.
8 (a) Notice to caller.--The commission shall direct every
9 telephone corporation, whenever a subscriber applies to
10 establish a telephone service furnishing a recorded commercial,
11 informational or public service message for a charge to the
12 caller in addition to the basic local exchange charge, to
13 require the subscriber to provide each person calling a recorded
14 announcement, in clear understandable terms, with the following
15 information prior to the commencement of the commercial,
16 informational or public service message:
17 (1) The specified amount of the charge for the call.
1 (2) A warning to callers under 18 years of age advising
2 them to secure parental consent to the call.
3 (3) An announcement informing the caller that no charges
4 will apply if the call is terminated immediately.
5 (b) Regulations on blocking calls.--The commission shall
6 promulgate rules and regulations directing service providers to
7 offer individual residential customers the option of blocking
8 all telephone calls for this class of service at a reasonable
9 cost to the customer. The blocking option shall be made
10 available no later than September 1, 1990.
11 (c) Penalty.--A subscriber who fails to institute the
12 recorded announcement as required by subsection (a) shall be in
13 violation of the act of December 17, 1968 (P.L.1224, No.387),
14 known as the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law.
15 (d) Regulations governing billing practices.--The commission
16 shall establish procedures governing telephone corporation
17 billing practices and operations for the class of service set
18 forth in subsection (a).
19 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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