Source: http://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title15-chapter83&edition=prelim
Timestamp: 2018-09-21 15:48:01
Document Index: 438212422

Matched Legal Cases: ['§5701', '§1', '§5711', '§201', '§5712', '§202', '§5713', '§203', '§5714', '§204', '§701', '§5721', '§301', '§1601', '§1666', '§5722', '§302', '§5723', '§303', '§5724', '§304']

[USC10] 15 USC Ch. 83: TELEPHONE DISCLOSURE AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION
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15 USC Ch. 83: TELEPHONE DISCLOSURE AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION
CHAPTER 83—TELEPHONE DISCLOSURE AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Short title; findings.
SUBCHAPTER I—REGULATION OF UNFAIR AND DECEPTIVE ACTS AND PRACTICES IN CONNECTION WITH PAY-PER-CALL SERVICES
Federal Trade Commission regulations.
Actions by States.
Administration and applicability of subchapter.
SUBCHAPTER II—BILLING AND COLLECTION
§5701. Short title; findings
This chapter may be cited as the "Telephone Disclosure and Dispute Resolution Act".
(Pub. L. 102–556, §1, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4181.)
This chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original "this Act", meaning Pub. L. 102–556, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4181, which enacted this chapter and section 228 of Title 47, Telecommunications, amended sections 227 and 302a of Title 47, enacted provisions set out as a note under section 302a of Title 47, and amended provisions set out as a note under section 227 of Title 47. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.
§5711. Federal Trade Commission regulations
(1) Advertising regulations
The Commission shall prescribe rules in accordance with this subsection to prohibit unfair and deceptive acts and practices in any advertisement for pay-per-call services. Such rules shall require that the person offering such pay-per-call services—
(E) in the case of advertising directed primarily to individuals under the age of 18, clearly and conspicuously state in such advertising that such individual must have the consent of such individual's parent or legal guardian for the use of such services;
(2) Pay-per-call service standards
The Commission shall prescribe rules to require that each provider of pay-per-call services—
(A) include in each pay-per-call message an introductory disclosure message that—
(H) ensure that any billing statement for such provider's charges shall—
(i) display any charges for pay-per-call services in a part of the consumer's bill that is identified as not being related to local and long distance telephone charges; and
(I) be liable for refunds to consumers who have been billed for pay-per-call services pursuant to programs that have been found to have violated the regulations prescribed pursuant to this section or subchapter II of this chapter or any other Federal law; and
(3) Access to information
The Commission shall by rule require a common carrier that provides telephone services to a provider of pay-per-call services to make available to the Commission any records and financial information maintained by such carrier relating to the arrangements (other than for the provision of local exchange service) between such carrier and any provider of pay-per-call services.
(4) Evasions
The rules issued by the Commission under this section shall include provisions to prohibit unfair or deceptive acts or practices that evade such rules or undermine the rights provided to customers under this subchapter, including through the use of alternative billing or other procedures.
The regulations prescribed by the Commission pursuant to paragraph (2)(A) may exempt from the requirements of such paragraph—
(6) Consideration of other rules required
In conducting a proceeding under this section, the Commission shall consider requiring, by rule or regulation, that providers of pay-per-call services—
(7) Special rule for infrequent publications
The rules prescribed by the Commission under subparagraphs (A) and (G) of paragraph (1) may permit, in the case of publications that are widely distributed, that are printed annually or less frequently, and that have an established policy of not publishing specific prices, advertising that in lieu of the cost disclosures required by such subparagraphs, clearly and conspicuously disclose that use of the telephone number may result in a substantial charge.
(8) Treatment of rules
A rule issued under this subsection shall be treated as a rule issued under section 57a(a)(1)(B) of this title.
(b) Rulemaking
The Commission shall prescribe the rules under subsection (a) within 270 days after October 28, 1992. Such rules shall be prescribed in accordance with section 553 of title 5.
Any violation of any rule prescribed under subsection (a) shall be treated as a violation of a rule respecting unfair or deceptive acts or practices under section 45 of this title. Notwithstanding section 45(a)(2) of this title, communications common carriers shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission for purposes of this subchapter.
(Pub. L. 102–556, title II, §201, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4187.)
§5712. Actions by States
Whenever an attorney general of any State has reason to believe that the interests of the residents of that State have been or are being threatened or adversely affected because any person has engaged or is engaging in a pattern or practice which violates any rule of the Commission under section 5711(a) of this title, the State may bring a civil action on behalf of its residents in an appropriate district court of the United States to enjoin such pattern or practice, to enforce compliance with such rule of the Commission, to obtain damages on behalf of their residents, or to obtain such further and other relief as the court may deem appropriate.
The State shall serve prior written notice of any civil action under subsection (a) upon the Commission and provide the Commission with a copy of its complaint, except that if it is not feasible for the State to provide such prior notice, the State shall serve such notice immediately upon instituting such action. Upon receiving a notice respecting a civil action, the Commission shall have the right (1) to intervene in such action, (2) upon so intervening, to be heard on all matters arising therein, and (3) to file petitions for appeal.
Any civil action brought under this section in a district court of the United States may be brought in the district wherein the defendant is found or is an inhabitant or transacts business or wherein the violation occurred or is occurring, and process in such cases may be served in any district in which the defendant is an inhabitant or wherever the defendant may be found.
(d) Investigatory powers
For purposes of bringing any civil action under this section, nothing in this chapter shall prevent the attorney general from exercising the powers conferred on the attorney general by the laws of such State to conduct investigations or to administer oaths or affirmations or to compel the attendance of witnesses or the production of documentary and other evidence.
(e) Effect on State court proceedings
Nothing contained in this section shall prohibit an authorized State official from proceeding in State court on the basis of an alleged violation of any general civil or criminal antifraud statute of such State.
Whenever the Commission has instituted a civil action for violation of any rule or regulation under this chapter, no State may, during the pendency of such action instituted by the Commission, subsequently institute a civil action against any defendant named in the Commission's complaint for violation of any rule as alleged in the Commission's complaint.
(g) Actions by other State officials
(2) In addition to actions brought by an attorney general of a State under subsection (a), such an action may be brought by officers of such State who are authorized by the State to bring actions in such State for protection of consumers and who are designated by the Commission to bring an action under subsection (a) against persons that the Commission has determined have or are engaged in a pattern or practice which violates a rule of the Commission under section 5711(a) of this title.
(Pub. L. 102–556, title II, §202, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4190.)
This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (d) and (f), was in the original "this Act", meaning Pub. L. 102–556, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4181, known as the Telephone Disclosure and Dispute Resolution Act. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see References in Text note set out under section 5701 of this title and Tables.
§5713. Administration and applicability of subchapter
Except as otherwise provided in section 5712 of this title, this subchapter shall be enforced by the Commission under the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.). Consequently, no activity which is outside the jurisdiction of that Act shall be affected by this chapter, except for purposes of this subchapter.
(b) Actions by Commission
The Commission shall prevent any person from violating a rule of the Commission under section 5711 of this title in the same manner, by the same means, and with the same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as though all applicable terms and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) were incorporated into and made a part of this subchapter. Any person who violates such rule shall be subject to the penalties and entitled to the privileges and immunities provided in the Federal Trade Commission Act in the same manner, by the same means, and with the same jurisdiction, power, and duties as though all applicable terms and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act were incorporated into and made a part of this subchapter.
(Pub. L. 102–556, title II, §203, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4191.)
§5714. Definitions
(1) The term "pay-per-call services" has the meaning provided in section 228(i) of title 47, except that the Commission by rule may, notwithstanding subparagraphs (B) and (C) of section 228(i)(1) of title 47, extend such definition to other similar services providing audio information or audio entertainment if the Commission determines that such services are susceptible to the unfair and deceptive practices that are prohibited by the rules prescribed pursuant to section 5711(a) of this title.
(2) The term "attorney general" means the chief legal officer of a State.
(3) The term "State" means any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, and any territory or possession of the United States.
(4) The term "Commission" means the Federal Trade Commission.
(Pub. L. 102–556, title II, §204, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4191; Pub. L. 104–104, title VII, §701(b)(1), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 147.)
1996—Par. (1). Pub. L. 104–104 amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (1) read as follows: "The term &apos;pay-per-call services&apos; has the meaning provided in section 228 of title 47."
§5721. Regulations
(1) Rules required
The Commission shall, in accordance with the requirements of this section, prescribe rules establishing procedures for the correction of billing errors with respect to telephone-billed purchases. The rules prescribed by the Commission shall also include provisions to prohibit unfair or deceptive acts or practices that evade such rules or undermine the rights provided to customers under this subchapter.
(2) Substantial similarity to credit billing
The Commission shall promulgate rules under this section that impose requirements that are substantially similar to the requirements imposed, with respect to the resolution of credit disputes, under the Truth in Lending and Fair Credit Billing Acts [15 U.S.C. 1601 et seq., 1666 et seq.].
(3) Treatment of rule
A rule issued under paragraph (1) shall be treated as a rule issued under section 57a(a)(1)(B) of this title.
(b) Rulemaking schedule and procedure
Any violation of any rule prescribed under subsection (a) shall be treated as a violation of a rule under section 45 of this title regarding unfair or deceptive acts or practices. Notwithstanding section 45(a)(2) of this title, communications common carriers shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission for purposes of this subchapter.
(d) Correction of billing errors and correction of credit reports
In prescribing rules under this section, the Commission shall consider, with respect to telephone-billed purchases, the following:
(4) Limitations upon providing carrier responsibilities, including limitations on a carrier's responsibility to verify delivery of audio information or entertainment.
(5) Requirements on actions by billing entities to set aside charges from a customer's billing statement.
(10) The extent to which the regulations should diverge from requirements under the Truth in Lending and Fair Credit Billing Acts [15 U.S.C. 1601 et seq., 1666 et seq.] in order to protect customers, and in order to be cost effective to billing entities.
(Pub. L. 102–556, title III, §301, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4191.)
The Truth in Lending Act, referred to in subsecs. (a)(2) and (d)(10), is title I of Pub. L. 90–321, May 29, 1968, 82 Stat. 146, as amended, which is classified generally to subchapter I (§1601 et seq.) of chapter 41 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1601 of this title and Tables.
The Fair Credit Billing Act, referred to in subsecs. (a)(2) and (d)(10), is title III of Pub. L. 93–495, Oct. 28, 1974, 88 Stat. 1511, which is classified principally to part D (§1666 et seq.) of subchapter I of chapter 41 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1974 Amendment note set out under section 1601 of this title and Tables.
§5722. Relation to State laws
(a) State law applicable unless inconsistent
This subchapter does not annul, alter, or affect, or exempt any person subject to the provisions of this subchapter from complying with, the laws of any State with respect to telephone billing practices, except to the extent that those laws are inconsistent with any provision of this subchapter, and then only to the extent of the inconsistency. The Commission is authorized to determine whether such inconsistencies exist. The Commission may not determine that any State law is inconsistent with any provision of this subchapter 1 if the Commission determines that such law gives greater protection to the consumer.
(b) Regulatory exemptions
The Commission shall by regulation exempt from the requirements of this subchapter any class of telephone-billed purchase transactions within any State if it determines that under the law of that State that class of transactions is subject to requirements substantially similar to those imposed under this subchapter 1 or that such law gives greater protection to the consumer, and that there is adequate provision for enforcement.
(Pub. L. 102–556, title III, §302, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4192.)
This subchapter, referred to the last time in subsecs. (a) and (b), was in the original "this chapter" and was translated as reading "this title" meaning title III of Pub. L. 102–556, to reflect the probable intent of Congress because Pub. L. 102–556 does not contain chapters.
§5723. Enforcement
The Commission shall enforce the requirements of this subchapter. For the purpose of the exercise by the Commission of its functions and powers under the Federal Trade Commission Act [15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.], a violation of any requirement imposed under this subchapter shall be deemed a violation of a requirement imposed under that Act. All the functions and powers of the Commission under that Act are available to the Commission to enforce compliance by any person with the requirements imposed under this subchapter, irrespective of whether that person is engaged in commerce or meets any other jurisdictional tests in that Act. The Commission may prescribe such regulations as are necessary or appropriate to implement the provisions of this subchapter.
(Pub. L. 102–556, title III, §303, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4192.)
§5724. Definitions
(1) The term "telephone-billed purchase" means any purchase that is completed solely as a consequence of the completion of the call or a subsequent dialing, touch tone entry, or comparable action of the caller. Such term does not include—
(B) local exchange telephone services or interexchange telephone services or any service that the Federal Communications Commission determines, by rule—
(2) A "billing error" consists of any of the following:
(H) Any other error described in regulations prescribed by the Commission pursuant to section 553 of title 5.
(3) The term "Commission" means the Federal Trade Commission.
(4) The term "providing carrier" means a local exchange or interexchange common carrier providing telephone services (other than local exchange services) to a vendor for a telephone-billed purchase that is the subject of a billing error complaint.
(5) The term "vendor" means any person who, through the use of the telephone, offers goods or services for a telephone-billed purchase.
(6) The term "customer" means any person who acquires or attempts to acquire goods or services in a telephone-billed purchase.
(Pub. L. 102–556, title III, §304, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4193.)