1. It is unlawful for any person to advertise services for which a certificate of public convenience and necessity or a contract carrier’s permit is required pursuant to NRS 706.011 to 706.791, inclusive, unless the person has been issued such a certificate or permit.

2. If, after notice and a hearing, the Authority determines that a person has engaged in advertising in a manner that violates the provisions of this section, the Authority may, in addition to any penalty, punishment or disciplinary action authorized by the provisions of NRS 706.011 to 706.791, inclusive, issue an order to the person to cease and desist the unlawful advertising and to:

(a) Cause any telephone number included in the advertising, other than a telephone number to a provider of paging services, to be disconnected.

(b) Request the provider of paging services to change the number of any beeper which is included in the advertising or disconnect the paging services to such a beeper, and to inform the provider of paging services that the request is made pursuant to this section.

3. If a person fails to comply with paragraph (a) of subsection 2 within 5 days after the date that the person receives an order pursuant to subsection 2, the Authority may request the Commission to order the appropriate provider of telephone service to disconnect any telephone number included in the advertisement, except for a telephone number to a provider of paging services. If a person fails to comply with paragraph (b) of subsection 2 within 5 days after the date the person receives an order pursuant to subsection 2, the Authority may request the provider of paging services to switch the beeper number or disconnect the paging services provided to the person, whichever the provider deems appropriate.

4. If the provider of paging services receives a request from a person pursuant to subsection 2 or a request from the Authority pursuant to subsection 3, it shall:

(a) Disconnect the paging service to the person; or

(b) Switch the beeper number of the paging service provided to the person.

If the provider of paging services elects to switch the number pursuant to paragraph (b), the provider shall not forward or offer to forward the paging calls from the previous number, or provide or offer to provide a recorded message that includes the new beeper number.

5. As used in this section:

(a) “Advertising” includes, but is not limited to, the issuance of any sign, card or device, or the permitting or allowing of any sign or marking on a motor vehicle, in any building, structure, newspaper, magazine or airway transmission, on the Internet or in any directory under the listing of “fully regulated carrier” with or without any limiting qualifications.

(b) “Beeper” means a portable electronic device which is used to page the person carrying it by emitting an audible or a vibrating signal when the device receives a special radio signal.

(c) “Provider of paging services” means an entity, other than a public utility, that provides paging service to a beeper.

(d) “Provider of telephone service” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 707.355.

(Added to NRS by 2003, 3207; A 2019, 2964)