STATE BILLS ADDRESS TELEMARKETING, SPAM, RATES, WIRELESS ISSUES
As 2002 state legislative sessions get under way, sampling of prefiled and newly-introduced legislation indicates early interest in telemarketing, spam, phone rates, and car phone safety, along with other wireless issues.
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Prefiled bill for 2002 session of N.Y. state Senate takes aim at “dead line” telemarketing calls. Dead line problem occurs when predictive dialers, used by telemarketers to screen out busy and unanswered lines, complete more connections than there are agents available to handle calls. Result for called party is phone that rings but nobody’s on the line. Measure (SB-6016) would prohibit use of predictive dialers unless telemarketer can prove an agent always would be available to speak immediately when called party answers phone. Bill has been assigned to Consumer Protection Committee.
New bill in Ind. Senate (SB-174) would relax state’s 2001 no-call telemarketing list law by adding 7th exemption, for businesses calling existing customers, unless customers tell business they no longer want to receive its calls. No- call law currently exempts insurance industry, charities, debt collectors, newspaper publishers, calls in response to customer inquiries and calls to set up sales appointments. It’s in Senate Commerce & Consumer Affairs Committee. Another Ind. bill (SB-180) would restructure state’s E-911 Advisory Board, reducing it to 7 members from 11 after existing members complete their terms, but term limits would be removed for members seeking reelection. It also would make state treasurer voting member and allow board to invest E-911 fees collected from wireless carriers, with earnings to be used for reimbursing wireless providers and local 911 answering centers. Bill also would require wireless providers and 911 answering points to comply with FCC’s Phase II wireless E-911 requirement that 911 dispatchers must be able to pinpoint location of mobile phone within certain small radius. Bill is in Senate Public Policy Committee.
Me. House bill (LD-2041, HB-1538) targets spam. Bill would require that parties sending unsolicited e-mail advertising include valid toll-free number and return e-mail address for persons who wanted to contact mailer to be removed from e-mail lists. It’s in House Business & Economic Development Committee. Another Maine bill (LD-1981, HB-1480) would prohibit local exchange carriers from charging per-min. toll rates on calls made between contiguous communities. Bill is in House Utilities & Energy Committee. Maine wireless tax bill (LD-1871, SB-667) would amend state wireless taxation laws to conform them to federal Mobile Telecom Sourcing Act. Tax law change would authorize taxation if wireless call originated or terminated in Maine and was billed to Maine service address or Maine phone number. It’s in Senate Taxation Committee.
Alaska has seen prefiling of new carphone safety bill. Measure (HB-295) would prohibit use of handheld mobile phones while driving. Hands-free models that are voice activated or use earphones would be allowed. Violators would be guilty of motor vehicle infraction, but bill doesn’t specify penalties. State Rep. Ken Lancaster (R-Soldotna), bill sponsor, said penalties would be addressed during committee hearings.