New Fax Rule Postponed

Jason Sandefur

Businesses across the country got a reprieve from a revised Federal Communications Commission fax regulation slated to begin Aug. 25. The new regulation, developed under the Bush administration, would eliminate the established business relationship and ban unsolicited fax advertisements.
Overwhelming response from business groups prompted the FCC to postpone the new rule until Jan. 1, 2005. The FCC plans to require written permission from every company being faxed. Business groups complained that the revised rule would cripple communications for non-profit groups and small businesses.
The American Society of Association Executives vows to continue fighting the regulation.
�Now that the stay has been granted, the association coalition will need to keep the momentum moving toward changing the law in Congress,� ASAE stated.
Several fastener associations were already preparing for the rules. �We plan to send out forms for our members to sign,� Dave Merrifield of the National Fastener Distributors Association said. �We will also include this on the new member applications as well.�
�NFDA is on record supporting the initiative by ASAE and NAW to fight this stupid legislation,� Merrifield added.
Vickie Lester, executive director for the Western Association of Fastener Distributors and the Los Angeles Fastener Association, had the FCC notice/consent to fax and e-mail in the works.�
�What a pain,� Lester summed up fastener association response to the rule. \ �2003 FastenerNews.com