PRINTER'S NO. 869
No. 742 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY McCALL, BEBKO-JONES, BELARDI, BELFANTI, BISHOP, BROWNE, CAWLEY, CORRIGAN, COY, CRUZ, CURRY, DALEY, DeLUCA, EACHUS, FREEMAN, GEIST, GEORGE, GRUCELA, HALUSKA, HARHAI, HENNESSEY, HORSEY, JAMES, JOSEPHS, KELLER, LaGROTTA, LAUGHLIN, MANDERINO, MELIO, PALLONE, PETRARCA, READSHAW, SAINATO, SANTONI, SATHER, SHANER, SOLOBAY, SURRA, TANGRETTI, THOMAS, TIGUE, WALKO, WANSACZ, WASHINGTON, WOJNAROSKI, WRIGHT AND YOUNGBLOOD, MARCH 6, 2003
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER AFFAIRS, MARCH 6, 2003
AN ACT 1 Amending the act of December 17, 1968 (P.L.1224, No.387), 2 entitled "An act prohibiting unfair methods of competition 3 and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of 4 any trade or commerce, giving the Attorney General and 5 District Attorneys certain powers and duties and providing 6 penalties," further providing for unfair and deceptive acts 7 or practices by Internet access providers. 8 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 9 hereby enacts as follows: 10 Section 1. The act of December 17, 1968 (P.L.1224, No.387), 11 known as the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, 12 reenacted and amended November 24, 1976 (P.L.1166, No.260), is 13 amended by adding a section to read: 14 Section 9.4. Provisions Relating to Internet Access 15 Providers.--(a) In connection with on-line registration for 16 Internet service, it constitutes an unfair and deceptive act or 17 practice for an Internet access provider to:
1 (1) Represent that any Internet access number listed on-line 2 as a local dial-up access number, including any 800 number, is 3 toll-free when usage of such telephone number to access the 4 Internet could result in toll charges or other additional fees. 5 (2) Cause the likelihood of confusion or of misunderstanding 6 by directing a person registering for Internet service to use an 7 area code to determine whether a local dial-up access number is 8 in such person's local calling area. 9 (3) Cause the likelihood of confusion or of misunderstanding 10 by directing a person registering for Internet service to call 11 his local operator to verify that a local dial-up access number 12 is in such person's local calling area. 13 (4) Fail to clearly disclose that the selection of a toll- 14 free 800 access number to connect to the Internet will result in 15 an additional surcharge, the amount of such surcharge, and the 16 basis for determining the surcharge amount. Such disclosure 17 shall be provided through a pop-up screen or any other such 18 visual interface, which shall be displayed immediately after the 19 800 number option is selected and which shall be designed to 20 display a notice similar to the following: 21 NOTICE 22 The selection of a toll-free 800 access number may result 23 in an additional surcharge of (amount of surcharge). This 24 surcharge is in addition to the monthly fee for Internet 25 access and may be based on the hours of usage. Your 26 completion of registration indicates that you 27 affirmatively agree to and accept all terms and 28 conditions relating to the usage of a toll-free 800 29 access number to connect to the Internet. If you do not 30 accept the terms and conditions governing the selection 20030H0742B0869 - 2 -
1 of a toll-free 800 access number, STOP! CLICK "CANCEL!" 2 DO NOT COMPLETE THIS REGISTRATION! 3 (5) Fail to clearly and completely disclose the terms and 4 conditions of an on-line access agreement to any person 5 registering on-line for Internet access service before on-line 6 registration is completed. 7 (6) Fail to secure in writing a person's affirmative 8 acceptance of the terms and conditions of an Internet access 9 agreement within thirty business days of completion of on-line 10 registration. 11 (b) (1) The Office of Attorney General shall enforce the 12 provisions of this section. All remedies, penalties and 13 authority granted to the Attorney General or to the appropriate 14 District Attorney, acting in the name of the Commonwealth of 15 Pennsylvania, under this act shall be available for the 16 enforcement of this section. 17 (2) In any action brought by the Attorney General or the 18 appropriate District Attorney to enforce this section, the court 19 may order that the person who incurred actual damages be awarded 20 double the amount at which actual damages are assessed. 21 (3) Any person who incurs actual damages as a result of the 22 use of an act or practice declared unlawful under subsection (a) 23 may bring a private action to recover actual damages in 24 accordance with section 9.2. 25 (4) In addition to any other penalties provided under this 26 act, a person who uses or employs any act or practice declared 27 unlawful under subsection (a) shall be subject to a civil 28 penalty of up to $2,000 for each violation. 29 (c) As used in this section: 30 "Access provider" means an entity that arranges for an 20030H0742B0869 - 3 -
1 individual, organization or business to have access to the 2 Internet. Access providers are generally divided into two 3 classes: Internet service providers and on-line service 4 providers. 5 "Area code" means a three-digit number identifying a specific 6 geographic area of the United States which permits direct 7 distance dialing on the telephone system. 8 "Internet service provider" means a service provider that has 9 its own network (or leases) to which end-users dial into to 10 connect to the Internet usually for a fee. 11 "Local calling area" means a geographic area within which 12 subscribers may make telephone calls without assessment of toll 13 charges. 14 "Local dial-up access number" means a telephone number used 15 to make a temporary connection between two computers to connect 16 to the Internet usually through the use of a modem and which is 17 usually described as being in a specific local calling area. 18 "On-line service provider" means an interactive computer 19 service such as RoadRunner, @Home, or AOL, which provides 20 subscribers with proprietary information or content as well as 21 access to the Internet usually for a fee. 22 "Pop-up screen" means a graphical user interface display 23 area, usually a small window, which is timed to appear ("pop 24 up") in the foreground of the visual interface. 25 "Toll-free 800 access number" means a telephone number which 26 enables a caller to dial a long distance telephone number 27 without incurring a charge for the call, which is paid for by 28 the party offering the 800 number, but which when used to access 29 the Internet, may result in a surcharge based on the hours of 30 usage or some other set fee. 20030H0742B0869 - 4 -
1 Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately. A9L12RLE/20030H0742B0869 - 5 -