HR 3993 · 111th Congress 2009–2011, ended

Calling Card Consumer Protection Act

Fact sheet

Latest action · Jun 24, 2010 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Progress

Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.

  1. IntroducedNov 3, 2009
  2. Passed HouseJun 23, 2010
  3. Passed SenateNot reached
  4. To the PresidentNot reached
  5. Became lawNot reached

Summary

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 accurately disclose in a clear and conspicuous manner 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.

Prohibits false, misleading, or deceptive disclosures on any calling card, packaging, advertisement, or related promotional material.

Requires disclosures to be clear and conspicuous and located on the prepaid calling card unless the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) determines otherwise.

(Sec. 4) Treats a violation as an unfair or deceptive act or practice under the Federal Trade Commission Act and requires the FTC to enforce this Act.

(Sec. 5) Authorizes a state to enforce the provisions of this Act through a civil action to: (1) enjoin a practice; (2) enforce compliance; (3) obtain damage, restitution, or other compensation; or (4) obtain other appropriate relief.

Requires a state before bringing such an action to provide the FTC with written notice and a copy of the complaint (unless the provision of notice is not feasible). Authorizes the FTC to intervene in any such action, which shall include the right to: (1) be heard with respect to any matter that arises in the action; (2) remove the action to U.S. district court; and (3) petition for appeal.

(Sec. 6) Applies the provisions of this Act, beginning 180 days after the date on which final regulations are promulgated, to: (1) any prepaid calling card issued or placed into the stream of commerce; and (2) any related advertising, promotion, point-of-sale material, or voice prompt.

(Sec. 7) Prohibits a state, after the date on which final regulations are promulgated, from establishing or continuing any law regarding disclosures to be printed on prepaid calling cards or packaging unless such requirements are identical to the requirements under this Act.

(Sec. 8) Requires studies and reports to Congress by: (1) the Comptroller General on the effectiveness of this Act and its required disclosures; and (2) the FTC on the extent to which the business practices of the prepaid calling card industry exist in the prepaid wireless industry.

Recorded votes 1

Newest first. Open one to see how every member voted.

Roll callQuestionResultDate
House 383Passed381–41Jun 23, 2010

Cosponsors 2

Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from Jan 29, 2010 to May 7, 2010.

SeatCosponsorSigned on
R-INDan BurtonJan 29, 2010
D-MANiki TsongasMay 7, 2010

Actions 19

Everything that happened, newest first.

  1. Jun 24, 2010Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  2. Jun 23, 2010At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
  3. Jun 23, 2010Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4731-4732)
  4. Jun 23, 2010Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4698-4701)
  5. Jun 23, 2010DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3993.

Related bills 1

Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.

BillTitleRelationshipLatest action
S 562Prepaid Calling Card Consumer Protection Act of 2009Related billMar 10, 2009

Subjects

Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications.

Text 4

Each version as it was printed, newest first.

  1. Jun 24, 2010Referred in Senate
  2. Jun 23, 2010Engrossed in House
  3. Jun 15, 2010Reported in House
  4. Nov 3, 2009Introduced in House

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Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov.