HB217 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Craig LipscombRepresentative

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Mike BallRussell BedsoleChip BrownWill DismukesTracy EstesTommy HanesReed IngramGil IsbellWes KitchensRhett MarquesParker MooreEd OliverPhillip PettusRex ReynoldsProncey RobertsonHarry ShiverMatt SimpsonVan SmithScott StadthagenShane StringerAndy Whitt

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Telephone communications, knowing and intentionally misleading use of inaccurate caller identification information, prohibited

Summary

HB217 bans knowingly misleading caller ID information, requires providers to deploy STIR/SHAKEN by 2022 at no cost to subscribers, and enforces the rule under the Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

What This Bill Does

It makes it illegal for telecom and interconnected VoIP providers to knowingly transmit misleading or inaccurate caller ID information to a subscriber, with several exceptions (calls from outside the state, permitted blocking, substitutions in certain commercial calls, and authorized law enforcement or court orders). It requires providers to implement STIR/SHAKEN or an equivalent technology to verify caller IDs by January 1, 2022 at no cost to subscribers. Violations are treated as Deceptive Trade Practices Act violations, with enforcement by the Attorney General and potential private lawsuits for damages, plus injunctive relief; providers are liable only for gross negligence or intentional wrongdoing. The bill notes a local-fund expenditure consideration but applies an exception because it creates or alters a crime, affecting how Amendment 621 applies.

Who It Affects

• Telecommunications service providers operating in Alabama: must implement STIR/SHAKEN or equivalent technology by 2022 and offer free detection software to subscribers.
• Consumers and subscribers of caller ID services: gain free software to detect or combat misleading caller ID and stronger protections against deceptive calls.
• Commercial telephone solicitors and other entities that use caller ID: must avoid knowingly misleading ID information and may face penalties under the Deceptive Trade Practices Act, with certain listed allowances in place.
• The Attorney General and private individuals: empowered to enforce the law and pursue damages or injunctive relief for violations.

Key Provisions

• Prohibit knowingly and with intent to mislead the transmission of misleading or inaccurate caller identification information, with specific exceptions (out-of-state calls, allowed blocking, substitutions in certain commercial calls, authorized law enforcement or investigative activity, and court-ordered use).
• Require providers to implement STIR/SHAKEN or comparable technology to verify and authenticate caller identification by January 1, 2022, at no cost to subscribers.
• Treat violations as Deceptive Trade Practices Act violations, enabling enforcement by the Attorney General.
• Allow aggrieved individuals to seek actual damages, court costs, and attorney's fees; provide for injunctive relief; impose liability on providers only for gross negligence or intentional wrongdoing.
• Provide definitions for key terms such as caller identification information, caller identification service, provider, subscriber, interconnected VoIP service, place of primary use, and telecommunications service.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Telecommunications