[SpamCop-List] [Media] Junk fax law to be gutted

[Kenneth Brody]

This was in my local paper.  Unfortunately, the online version doesn't
have it available.  However, Google News has links, though the ones I
tried require registration.

    http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&edition=us&ie=ascii&q=junk+fax&btnG=Search+News

Basically, the current "junk fax" law has the unwritten loophole allowing
those with "existing business relationships" to send you faxes.  A bill
was introduced that would have closed that hole, and would have required
written permission to send faxes.  However, it didn't get far, as there
were objections that it would forbid, for example, calling a business
and having them fax you a quote.  (Remember, they would need to have
"written" permission.)

So, Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich) decided to go all out in the opposite direction
and make the "unwritten loophole" written.

    [...]
    Under his bill, any business you've ever walked into, visited
    online, called or bought from would be exempt from the ban.
    Unless you specificall asked them not to, they'd be allowed to
    track down your fax number from a directory and start bombarding
    your fax machine with ads.  Fax marketers would be back in
    business, with a vengeance.
    [...]

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| Kenneth J. Brody        | www.hvcomputer.com |                             |
| kenbrody at spamcop.net | www.fptech.com     | #include <std_disclaimer.h> |
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