The Federal Communications Commission regulates the use of artificial or pre-recorded voice messages. These may not be made to residential telephone numbers except in the following cases:

• Emergency calls needed to ensure your health and safety
• Non-commercial calls
• Calls which don't include any unsolicited advertisements
• Calls by, or on behalf of, tax-exempt nonprofit organizations
• Calls for which you have given prior consent
• Calls from entities with which you have an established business relationship

The beginning of the message must identify who is calling. During or after the message, the caller's telephone number or address must be given. The phone number cannot be that of the auto dialer or pre-recorded message player that placed the call. It also cannot be a 900 number or any other number with charges that exceed local or long distance charges.

The called party's telephone line must be released within five seconds of the time that the calling system receives notification the party has hung up. Your local telephone company can tell you if there is a delay before you can get a dial tone again in your area. Submit suspected violations to the FCC.