Telecommunications: automatic dialing-announcing devices: artificial voices.

Existing law authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to control and regulate the connection of an automatic dialing-announcing device, as defined, to a telephone line. Existing law imposes various requirements on the use of an automatic dialing-announcing device, including that whenever telephone calls are placed through the use of an automatic dialing-announcing device, the device may be operated only after an unrecorded, natural voice announcement has been made to the person called by the person calling. Existing law requires the announcement to state the nature of the call and provide specified information about the business or organization being represented, if any, and inquire as to whether the person called consents to hear the prerecorded message. This bill would require the announcement to also inform the person called if the prerecorded message uses an artificial voice, as defined. Under existing law, a violation of any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime. Because a violation of a commission action implementing this bill's requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.