FCC delays do-not-fax rule for businesses
By Sean Hao
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Federal Communications Commission yesterday pushed back an Aug. 25 deadline that would have prevented businesses from promoting products via fax without first getting written permission.
The new rules governing the sending of unsolicited faxes are set to take effect Jan. 1, 2005. The FCC rule comes in conjunction with the Federal Trade Commission's nationwide do-not-call list, which is to take effect in September.
The do-not-fax rule requires businesses and other organizations to get permission to send faxes to potential customers, even if a prior business relationship exists.
The FCC delayed the effective date to allow businesses more time to obtain such permission and further review the rule. That move came after complaints raised by business groups, including the National Association of Realtors and the National Association of Business Political Action Committees.
The rule is intended to cut down on junk faxes. However, there's concern it could hurt small businesses that rely on faxes to communicate with customers.
Martin Skrypzak, a manager at Hawaii Stationery Co. in 'Aiea, said the company only sends faxes to customers. Getting written permission from each of them would be an unnecessary burden, he said.
"I really don't think that was the intent of the regulation," he said. "I think that was a good move to push that back because I think it will generate a lot of discussion."
Some Hawai'i businesses were getting permission from customers when the rule delay was announced. Honolulu lunch wagon Simply Ono sent permission requests to about 400 businesses and individuals.
Simply Ono co-owner Harry Sukita said he wasn't sure whether the rule would have hurt traffic at the lunch wagon's location behind the Honolulu Municipal Building.
"A lot of people look at the (faxed) menu," Sukita said. "I'm pretty sure a lot of people won't respond (to the permission request) just because they're complacent or because they have to put their name down on the dotted line."
Reach Sean Hao at shao@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8093.
