The Commission first adopted regulations governing interstate pay-per-call services in 1991 to address complaints of widespread abuse involving 900 number service.  In 1992, Congress enacted the Telephone Disclosure and Dispute Resolution Act (TDDRA) (codified at 47 U.S.C. § 228) which required both the Commission and the Federal Trade Commission to adopt rules intended to increase consumers' protection from fraudulent and deceptive practices and promote the development of legitimate pay-per-call services. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 (1996 Act) amended section 228 to impose more stringent restrictions on the use of toll-free numbers to charge consumers for information services.

On July 11, 1996, the Commission issued an Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking implementing the amendments to section 228. Specifically, the Commission amended its Rules governing interstate pay-per-call (900 numbers) and other information services to address abusive practices that threatened public confidence in toll-free numbers and left telephone subscribers vulnerable to unexpected charges for calls and information services (47 C.F.R. § 64.1501 et seq.).  The Commission also proposed further rule amendments to prevent circumvention of the standards enacted by the 1996 Act.

On July 16, 2004, the Commission initiated a new proceeding to review the rules and regulations governing interstate pay-per-call and other information services, as well as toll-free numbers.

Major Pay-Per-Call Orders and Notices

10/19/04
Dates set for Comments on the Interstate Pay-Per-Call and other Information Services, and Toll-Free Number Usage, Comments due 11/15/04, Reply Comments due 11/29/04
Public Notice:  Word | Acrobat

7/16/2004
The Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau Initiates a Proceeding on the Policies and Rules Governing Interstate Pay-Per-Call and Other Information Services, and Toll-Free Number Usage, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Docket Nos. 96-146 and 98-170, FCC No. 04-162. NPRM:  Word | Acrobat

4/1/2003
Dates Set for Comments on the Pay-Per-Call and Other Information Services Public Notice, Comments Due 5/12/2003, Reply Comments Due 5/27/2003, CC Docket No. 96-146
News Release: Word | Acrobat

3/17/2003
The Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau Seeks Comment to Refresh the Record on the Commission's Rules Governing Interstate Pay-Per-Call & Other Information Services, DA No. 03-807, CC Docket No. 96-146
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

7/11/1996
Order and Notice of Proposed Rule Making, CC Docket No. 96-146, 11 FCC Rcd 14738 (1996)

9/26/1991
Policies and Rules Concerning Interstate 900 Telecommunications Services, CC Docket No. 91-65, Report and Order, 6 FCC Rcd 6166 (1991)