TIPS Act of 2015

To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to provide for additional technical and procedural standards for artificial or prerecorded voice telephone messages and the establishment of such standards for live telephone solicitations. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Transparency in Phone Solicitation Act of 2015 TIPS Act of 2015 2. Technical and procedural standards (a) In general Section 227(d) of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 227(d) (1) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting or to make any live telephone solicitation automatic telephone dialing system (2) in paragraph (3)— (A) in subparagraph (A)— (i) by striking or address and address (ii) by striking ; and and the address of a website that the called party may use to indicate that such party does not wish to receive telephone calls from such business, other entity, or individual; (B) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C); and (C) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following: (B) any such system will, to the extent possible, transmit caller identification information (as defined in subsection (e)(8)) that includes— (i) the identity of the business, other entity, or individual initiating the call; and (ii) a telephone number that the called party may use to return the call directly to such business, other entity, or individual; and ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (4) Live telephone solicitations (A) In general The Commission shall prescribe technical and procedural standards for any business, other entity, or individual that makes a live telephone solicitation. Such standards shall require that— (i) all such solicitations shall— (I) at the beginning of the call, state clearly the identity of the business, other entity, or individual making the solicitation; and (II) during the call, state clearly the telephone number and address of such business, other entity, or individual and the address of a website that the called party may use to indicate that such party does not wish to receive telephone solicitations from such business, other entity, or individual; (ii) the business, other entity, or individual making the solicitation shall, to the extent possible, transmit caller identification information (as defined in subsection (e)(8)) that includes— (I) the identity of such business, other entity, or individual; and (II) a telephone number that the called party may use to return the call directly to such business, other entity, or individual; and (iii) the business, other entity, or individual making the solicitation shall release the called party's line within 5 seconds of the time notification is transmitted to such business, other entity, or individual that the called party has hung up, to allow the called party's line to be used to make or receive other calls. (B) Live telephone solicitation defined In this paragraph, the term live telephone solicitation (i) in which the business, other entity, or individual initiating the call does not employ an artificial or prerecorded voice; and (ii) with respect to which such business, other entity, or individual does not have a personal relationship (as defined in section 64.1200(f) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations) with the called party. . (b) Deadline for regulations Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission shall promulgate such regulations and make such revisions to its regulations as may be necessary to implement the amendments made by subsection (a).

Summary: Transparency in Phone Solicitation Act of 2015 or the TIPS Act of 2015 Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit businesses, entities, or individuals from making live telephone solicitations unless the solicitor: (1) states the solicitor's identity, telephone number, and address; (2) states the address of a website that the called party may use to indicate that such party does not wish to receive calls from that solicitor; (3) transmits caller identification information, including a telephone number that the called party may use to return the call directly to such solicitor; and (4) releases the called party's line within five seconds after being notified that the called party has hung up to allow the called party to make or receive other calls. Revises standards applicable to telephone transmissions of artificial or prerecorded voice messages to add comparable procedures requiring any such messages to: (1) state the telephone number and address (currently, telephone number or address) of the calling entity, (2) state the address of a website that the called party may use to indicate that such party does not wish to receive calls from that entity, and (3) transmit caller identification information. Retains the current law requirement that artificial or prerecorded messages must release the line within five seconds after the called party has hung up.