Abstract: A telephone handset with static discharge prevention has a dielectric membrane extending over the metal ferrule of the transmitter, the membrane spaced from the ferrule by an annular dielectric spacer. At the receiver, a metal shunt on the front of the receiver has a central aperture for acoustic access. An annular dielectric membrane is positioned in the aperture and a dielectric membrane extends over the aperture, dielectric member and shunt. The membrane has a small hole within the annular dielectric member. The dielectric membrane at the transmitter increases the breakdown voltage to a value which will avoid static discharge to the user. The dielectric membrane and dielectric spacer at the receiver forms a long and sinuous discharge path which raises the breakdown voltage to a value which also avoids static discharge to a user.