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A Senate Commerce Committee flack sent me this today:
Commerce Committee Approves “Junk Fax” Bill.
Then just seconds later, I got this correction: Commerce Committee Approves “Junk Fax Prevention” Bill.
The original would be funny, except for the fact, that, well, the original is closer to the truth.
The Senate, being urged on by the Nation's second most biggest bestower of campaign funds, the National Association of Realtors, is looking to make it legal for any business to fax you provided you have ever called, spoken to, visited or purchased anything from that business in the last seven years.
In a hearing yesterday, Senator Barbara Boxer, standing up for a little common sense, said the bill should be called the "Junk Fax Promotion Act."
The rapid action on the bill is intended to stop pending FCC rules that will require any business to have a signed permission slip in order to fax anyone anything even resembling an ad.
Almost everyone knows that is too onerous (especially since you can't fax the permission slip), but instead of allowing for a simple verbal or emailed consent to be enough, Congress is making it possible for companies to spam you mercilessly at your own expense and creating a gigantic loophole that will be abused by junk faxers.
For those of you nerdy enough to go look up the bill, its S. 714 and will soon go to Senate floor. A version of this passed the Senate late in last year's session, and its highly likely this bill, or some modified version, will be signed into law soon.
Better start checking Froogle for cheap toner.
Posted by Ryan Singel at April 14, 2005 12:39 PM
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