FCC Proposes ‘Junk Fax’ Curbs

The Federal Communications Commission moved Friday to curb unwanted faxes, proposing rules to let recipients block them under a law passed in July.

The FCC also put off a requirement that senders get written consent from recipients before sending them a fax. Before Friday’s action, that rule was to take effect Jan. 9.

Senders would be required to tell recipients of unwanted faxes how to opt out from getting more of them under the curbs proposed by the regulatory agency. Limits on “junk faxes” must be in place by April 5 under the law signed by President Bush in July.

“Junk faxes are like unwanted guests that somehow get into your house,” Commissioner Jonathan S. Adelstein said during a meeting in Washington.

Businesses have expressed concern that the rules to implement the new law might block faxes between companies that have had prior dealings. The FCC is trying to deal with that and other issues as it writes the rules to protect consumers and businesses from unwanted faxes, Chairman Kevin J. Martin said.

Before the proposed rules can take effect they must be published in the Federal Register, and interested parties then have 45 days to make comments.