Sec. 64.1504  Restrictions on the use of toll-free numbers.

    A common carrier shall prohibit by tariff or contract the use of any 
800 telephone number, or other telephone number advertised or widely 
understood to be toll-free, in a manner that would result in:
    (a) The calling party or the subscriber to the originating line 
being assessed, by virtue of completing the call, a charge for a call;
    (b) The calling party being connected to a pay-per-call service;
    (c) The calling party being charged for information conveyed during 
the call unless:
    (1) The calling party has a written agreement (including an 
agreement transmitted through electronic medium) that specifies the 
material terms and conditions under which the information is offered and 
includes:
    (i) The rate at which charges are assessed for the information;
    (ii) The information provider's name;
    (iii) The information provider's business address;
    (iv) The information provider's regular business telephone number;
    (v) The information provider's agreement to notify the subscriber at 
least one billing cycle in advance of all future changes in the rates 
charged for the information;
    (vi) The subscriber's choice of payment method, which may be by 
direct remit, debit, prepaid account, phone bill, or credit or calling 
card and, if a subscriber elects to pay by means of phone bill, a clear 
explanation that the subscriber will be assessed for calls made to the 
information service from the subscriber's phone line;
    (vii) A unique personal identification number or other subscriber-
specific identifier that must be used to obtain access to the 
information service and instructions on its use, and, in addition, 
assures that any charges for services accessed by use of the 
subscriber's personal identification number or subscriber-specific 
identifier be assessed to subscriber's source of payment elected

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pursuant to paragraph (c)(1)(vi) of this section; or
    (2) The calling party is charged for the information by means of a 
credit, prepaid, debit, charge, or calling card and the information 
service provider includes in response to each call an introductory 
message that:
    (i) Clearly states that there is a charge for the call;
    (ii) Clearly states the service's total cost per minute and any 
other fees for the service or for any service to which the caller may be 
transferred;
    (iii) Explains that the charges must be billed on either a credit, 
prepaid, debit, charge, or calling card;
    (iv) Asks the caller for the card number;
    (v) Clearly states that charges for the call begin at the end of the 
introductory message; and
    (vi) Clearly states that the caller can hang at or before the end of 
the introductory message without incurring any charge whatsoever.
    (d) The calling party being called back collect for the provision of 
audio or data information services, simultaneous voice conversation 
services, or products; and
    (e) The calling party being assessed by virtue of the caller being 
asked to connect or otherwise transfer to a pay-per-call service, a 
charge for the call.
    (f) Provided, however, that:
    (1) Notwithstanding paragraph (c)(1) of this section, a written 
agreement that meets the requirements of that paragraph is not required 
for:
    (i) Calls utilizing telecommunications devices for the deaf;
    (ii) Directory services provided by a common carrier or its 
affiliate or by a local exchange carrier or its affiliate; or
    (iii) Any purchase of goods or of services that are not information 
services.
    (2) The requirements of paragraph (c)(2) of this section shall not 
apply to calls from repeat callers using a bypass mechanism to avoid 
listening to the introductory message: Provided, That information 
providers shall disable such a bypass mechanism after the institution of 
any price increase for a period of time determined to be sufficient by 
the Federal Trade Commission to give callers adequate and sufficient 
notice of a price increase.

[ 61 FR 39087 , July 26, 1996]