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Please use your back button to return to the last page. Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report, November 9, 1991The Senate on Nov. 7 passed on voice votes two bills aimed at ensuring the privacy of telephone consumers from marketers. A bill (S1410), sponsored by Larry Pressler, R-S.D., would direct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to halt the intrusion of unsolicited marketing calls.One option is an electronic database that would allow consumers to register their phone numbers and receive protection from unsolicited advertising. Another is to place all telemarketers on a single phone exchange, to allow consumers to block calls from that exchange. The FCC also would have to examine whether small businesses and second-class mail permit holders should be subject to the same rules. The bill would not prohibit businesses from calling established customers. The other measure (S1462), sponsored by Commerce Committee Chairman Ernest F. Hollings, D-S.C., would curb the use of automatic telephone dialing devices. Businesses would be banned from placing automatically dialed calls to either fax machines or homes. Consumers who receive such calls could sue in state courts. The House Energy and Commerce Committee in July approved a companion bill (HR1304) that would call on the FCC to protect consumers from unwanted telemarketing calls and regulate-but not ban-computerized dialing to either fax machines or residences. It awaits floor action. Please use your back button to return to the last page. |
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