FCC Delays Starting Date for Fax Rule

By Elizabeth Schwinn

Charities and businesses can send faxed solicitations without getting permission from recipients until the end of 2004, thanks to a federal agency’s decision to give organizations more time to comply with a new regulation.

The Federal Communications Commission issued a regulation in July that said nonprofit groups and businesses will no longer be allowed to send so-called junk faxes that advertise goods or services to recipients who haven’t specifically asked for them. Many nonprofit groups have opposed the new rule because they said it would make it too expensive to use faxes to send solicitations or promote their materials (The Chronicle, August 7).

Nonprofit groups, for-profit businesses, and individuals will have to follow the regulation starting January 1, 2005. The change, originally slated to take effect last month, carries fines of $500 to $11,000 for sending faxes without getting written permission from those who receive them.

In announcing the delay, the FCC noted that many organizations “may need additional time” to secure the written permission required.

More information on the rule is available on the commission’s Web site at http://www.fcc.gov.