A bill to do away with a plan to make commercial faxers get written permission to send solicitations starting Jan. 1 has drawn more than 25 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives.
The Junk Fax Prevention Bill, H.R. 4600, filed June 16 by Rep. Fred Upton, R-MI, awaits review by the House Energy & Commerce Committee. It would maintain current rules that allow commercial faxes to be sent when the sender has an existing business relationship with the recipient, but it adds new disclosure and opt-out rules.
Among the co-sponsors is Rep. Edward Markey, D-MA, who was a strident supporter of the national no-call list. Markey gained attention during congressional debate over the no-call list with a staged “telemarketing call” to his cell phone in the middle of a hearing that was actually placed by a member of his staff.
Other co-sponsors include Rep. Joe Barton, R-TX, who is chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and Rep. John Dingell, D-MI, the committee's ranking Democrat.
