106 STAT. 4182 PUBLIC LAW 102-556—OCT. 28, 1992

billing disputes if they are to use this new marketplace for
the sale of products of more than nominal value.

TITLE I—CARRIER OBLIGATIONS AND
CONSUMER RIGHTS CONCERNING
PAY-PER-CALL TRANSACTIONS

SEC. 101. AMENDMENT TO COMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1934.

Title II of the Communications Act of 1934 is amended by
adding at the end thereof the following new section:

47 USC 228. "SEC. 228. REGULATION OF CARRIER OFFERING OF PAY-PER-CALL

SERVICES.

"(a) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this section—

"(1) to put into effect a system of national regulation and
review that will oversee interstate pay-per-call services; and

"(2) to recognize the Commission's authority to prescribe
regulations and enforcement procedures and conduct oversight
to afford reasonable protection to consumers of pay-per-call
services and to assure that violations of Federal law do not
occur.

"(b) GENERAL AUTHORITY FOR REGULATIONS.—The Commission
by regulation shall, within 270 days after the date of enactment
of this section, establish a system for oversight and regulation
of pay-per-call services in order to provide for the protection of
consumers in accordance with this Act and other applicable Federal
statutes and regulations. The Commission's final rules shall—

"(1) include measures that provide a consumer of pay-
per-call services with adequate and clear descriptions of the
rights of the caller;

"(2) define the obligations of common carriers with respect
to the provision of pay-per-call services;

"(3) include requirements on such carriers to protect
against abusive practices by providers of pay-per-call services;

"(4) identify procedures by which common carriers and
providers of pay-per-call services may take affirmative steps
to protect against nonpayment of legitimate charges; and

"(5) require that any service described hi subparagraphs
(A) and (B) of subsection (iXD be offered only through the
use of certain telephone number prefixes and area codes.
"(c) COMMON CARRIER OBLIGATIONS.—Within 270 days after
the date of enactment of this section, the Commission shall, by
regulation, establish the following requirements for common car-
riers:

"(1) CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS TO COMPLY.—Any common
carrier assigning to a provider of pay-per-call services a tele-
phone number with a prefix or area code designated by the
Commission in accordance with subsection (bX5) shall require
by contract or tariff that such provider comply with the provi-
sions of titles II and III of the Telephone Disclosure and Dispute
Resolution Act and the regulations prescribed by the Federal
Trade Commission pursuant to those titles.

"(2) INFORMATION AVAILABILITY.—A common carrier that
by tariff or contract assigns a telephone number with a prefix
or area code designated by the Commission in accordance with