Policy Update: House Passes Calling Card Consumer Protection Act
Prepaid calling cards, first introduced to the retail market two decades ago, have undergone explosive growth over the last ten years thanks to globalization of the U.S. workforce and declining international long distance costs. This combination has enabled the U.S. prepaid industry to generate annual revenues estimated at well over four billion dollars.
Over the years, the promise of huge profit margins has created a competitive drive to advertise and sell cards with "cheaper rates" and "more minutes" to an ever-growing base of migrant consumers. Beginning as early as 2000, this race to “provide” more minutes for less money has led many companies to promise more than they deliver--at the consumers expense.
Recently, the House passed the Calling Card Consumer Protection Act (H.R.3993). House of Representatives voted 381-41 to pass an amended version of the Calling Card Consumer Protection Act (H.R.3993) to require accurate and reasonable disclosure of the terms and conditions of prepaid telephone calling cards and services. The bill was introduced on November 3, 2009 by Representative Eliot Engle (D-New York), approved by the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection on March 24, 2010, and by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on May 5, 2010. Senator Bill Nelson (D-Florida) introduced a similar bill in the Senate in March 2009, which has seen no further action. Similar legislation was introduced in the 110th Congress, but was not enacted. H.R.3993 now goes to the Senate for consideration. On June 24, 2010 it was received in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
H.R. 3993 would establish requirements for information that must be displayed on prepaid telephone calling cards, their packaging, and in advertisements for the cards. The bill would require the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to develop regulations that would specify the information to be displayed, including the company name, the number of minutes available, the dollar amount of the card, the expiration date, and any fees, charges, or limitations associated with the card.
The bill would allow state attorneys general, utility commissions and consumer protection agencies to bring civil action on behalf of state residents that were threatened or adversely affected by any person in a practice that is prohibited under this bill. H.R. 3993 would establish that the regulations enacted related to this bill would pre-empt any similar state laws.
Finally, within three years of enactment, the FTC and the Government Accountability Office would be required to report on studies on the business practices of the calling card industry and the effectiveness of the disclosures required by the legislation.
Whether wireline or wireless, phone calls are a vital part of our communication system, and a piece of technology that many of us take for granted. Yet for prisoners, the homeless, migrants and immigrant detainees, it’s a different story—phone calls are a privilege, not a right. Exorbitant collect-calling surcharges, limited ‘Safelink’ minutes, outrageous “pay-per-minute” prices and fraudulent calling cards are just some of the issues these community members face.
Take a minute to see how your Represetative voted. Let them know your organization, and MAG-Net care about Phone Justice, and continue to follow this important issue as it moves to the Senate.
- amalia_deloney's blog
- Login or register to post comments
-
Comments
Women in summer would like to
Women in summer would like to become beautiful. Everything can grab other's eyes is their best friends.Products make them beauty and confident is their favourite. Look in the street,you can see many different types of make up to show women's personality.
Welcome to the shop, the following is our products, free shipping.
Soccer Shoes Cheap Soccer Shoes Nike Soccer Shoes Adidas Soccer Shoes Nike Soccer Shoes sale Adidas Soccer Shoes sale MBT MBT shoes MBT Men shoes MBT Women shoes MBT Chapa Chapa GTX MBT Chapa GTX MBT Changa Women UGG Women UGG boots ugg boots cardy ugg women ugg cardy boots Nike Air Nike Air Max Nike Air Max Shoes Nike Dunk Nike Dunk SB Nike Dunk SB Shoes Nike Shox Nike Shox Shoes Timberland Timberland sale Timberland boots Timberland boots online Timberland on sale New timberland boots Women Bags Women Bags Sale Women Handbags Women Handbags Sale Women New Bags Cheap Bags Cheap Bags On Sale UGG UGG boots UGG boots short Short ugg Short ugg boots Ugg boots tall New women bags New women bags sale New women bags sale online Louis Vuitton Handbags Gucci bags hair straighteners hair straighteners sales GHD straighteners GHD straighteners sales CHI iron CHI iron sales BOSE headphones discount cheap CHI iron Nike Nike Shoes Nike Shoes Sale Nike running Nike running shoes Nike trainers Nike trainers shoes Timberland boots Timberland boots sale Timberland boot Timberland boot sale Timberland boots cheap Men timberlands
Those who want to become most beautiful in the world should try them. Just ones can make you different. Girls who want to grab your boyfriends's heart is necessary to use them.
respond this post
People deserve wealthy life and loans or commercial loan would make it better. Just because people's freedom is based on money state.
The bill would allow state
The bill would allow state attorneys wedding gowns general, utility commissions and consumer protection agencies to bring Wedding Dresses Shop civil action on behalf of state residents that were threatened Louis Vuitton or adversely affected by any person in a practice that is louis vuitton shoes with the red bottom prohibited under this bill. H.R. 3993 would establish that the regulations enacted louis vuitton speedy 30 bag related to this bill would pre-empt any similar state laws.