47-18-1502 - Unlawful use of ADAD equipment Consent to calls. - Tennessee Statutes

47-18-1502. Unlawful use of ADAD equipment Consent to calls.

(a)  It is unlawful for any person to use, to employ or direct another person to use, or to contract for the use of ADAD equipment for the purpose of advertising or offering for sale, lease, rental or as a gift any goods, services or property, either real or personal, primarily for personal, family or household use or for the purpose of conducting polls or soliciting information where:

     (1)  Consent is not received prior to the initiation of the calls as specified in subsection (b);

     (2)  Such use is other than between the hours of eight o'clock a.m. (8:00 a.m.) and nine o'clock p.m. (9:00 p.m.);

     (3)  The ADAD equipment will operate unattended, or is not so designed and equipped with an automatic clock and calendar device that it will not operate unattended, even in the event of power failures;

     (4)  Such use involves either the random or sequential dialing of telephone numbers;

     (5)  The telephone number required to be stated in subdivision (a)(7) is not, during normal business hours, promptly and personally answered by someone who:

          (A)  Is an agent of the person or organization in whose behalf the automatic calls are made; and

          (B)  Is willing and able to provide information concerning the automatic calls;

     (6)  The automatic dialing and recorded message player does not automatically and immediately terminate its connection with any telephone call within ten (10) seconds after the person called:

          (A)  Fails to give consent for the playing of a recorded message; or

          (B)  Replaces the receiver on the person's telephone;

     (7)  The recorded message fails to state clearly the name and telephone number of the person or organization initiating the call within the first twenty-five (25) seconds of the call and at the conclusion of the call; or

     (8)  Such use involves calls to:

          (A)  Telephone numbers which, at the request of the customer, have been omitted from the telephone directory published by the telephone company or cooperative serving the customer; or

          (B)  Hospitals, nursing homes, fire protection agencies, or law enforcement agencies.

(b)  (1)  A person may give consent to a call made with ADAD equipment when a live operator introduces the call and states an intent to play a recorded message. Any such consent shall apply only to a particular call and shall not constitute prior consent to receive further calls through the use of such ADAD equipment.

     (2)  (A)  Any person wishing to receive telephone calls through the use of ADAD equipment shall give written consent to the person using, employing, directing another person to use, or contracting for the use of such ADAD equipment.

          (B)  Any form used for such written consent by any person using, employing, directing another person to use, or contracting for the use of such ADAD equipment shall clearly and conspicuously state its purpose and effect, and clearly and conspicuously give notice of how such consent may be withdrawn.

          (C)  A record of such written consent shall be maintained by the person to whom consent is given, and shall be made available to the authority or its authorized representative, without further action, during normal business hours and following reasonable notice.

          (D)  Such consent shall, unless withdrawn, be valid for a period of two (2) years from the date on which it is executed; and such record of written consent shall be maintained by the person to whom consent is given for at least the same period of time.

          (E)  Any consent to receive telephone calls through the use of ADAD equipment shall be void and withdrawn on the fifteenth day following the receipt of a letter withdrawing such consent. It is unlawful for any person to whom written consent is given to fail to maintain the record of such written consent for the time required by this subdivision, or to prevent or hinder the authority or its authorized representative from inspecting any such record of written consent.

[Acts 1990, ch. 874, § 2; 1995, ch. 305, § 104.]