*Pages 1--1 from  Microsoft Word - 30529*
 NEWS  Federal  Communications  Commission  445  12  th  Street,  S.  W.  Washington,  D.  C.  20554  This  is  an  unofficial  announcement  of  Commission  action.  Release  of  the  full  text  of  a  Commission  order  constitutes  official  action.  See  MCI  v.  FCC.  515  F  2d  385  (D.  C.  Circ  1974).  News  Media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  TTY:  1-  888-  835-  5322 
 For  Immediate  Release:  News  Media  Contacts:  August  19,  2003  Rosemary  Kimball  202-  418-  0511 
 E-  mail:  Rosemary.  Kimball@  fcc.  gov  Dan  Rumelt  202-  418-  7512 
 E-  mail:  Dan.  Rumelt@  fcc.  gov 
 FCC  EXTENDS  THE  EFFECTIVE  DATE  OF  AMENDED  FAX  ADVERTISING  RULES  UNTIL  JANUARY  1,  2005 
 Other  Recently  Adopted  TCPA  Rules  Remain  Unaffected 
 Washington,  DC  –  The  Federal  Communications  Commission  (FCC)  has  extended  to  January  1,  2005,  the  effective  date  of  its  new  rules  requiring  written  consent  before 
 sending  advertising  faxes. 
 This  action  does  not  change  the  effective  date  for  the  comprehensive  telemarketing  rules,  including  other  rules  regarding  faxes,  adopted  on  June  26,  2003. 
 This  action  also  does  not  change  the  October  1,  2003  effective  date  for  the  national  do-not-  call  registry. 


 The  extension  of  time  permits  entities  sending  fax  advertisements  more  time  to  comply  with  the  new  rules  and  obtain  written  consent  and  signatures  from  parties  to 
 whom  they  wish  to  fax.  It  will  also  allow  the  Commission  time  to  consider  any  petitions  for  reconsideration  and  other  filings  that  may  be  made  on  this  issue. 


 The  extension  keeps  in  effect,  until  January  1,  2005,  the  exemption  that  allows  entities  to  send  unsolicited  fax  advertisements  to  individuals  and  businesses  with  which 
 they  have  established  business  relationships.  Until  January  1,  2005,  those  transmitting  faxes  do  not  have  to  obtain  the  express  written  consent,  including  signatures,  from 
 recipients  with  whom  they  have  established  business  relationships.  Regardless  of  the  extension,  however,  fax  transmitters  still  must  obtain  prior  express  permission  from  fax 
 recipients  with  whom  they  do  not  have  established  business  relationships. 
 Action  by  the  Commission  August  18,  2003,  by  Order  on  Reconsideration  (FCC  03-  208).  Chairman  Powell,  Commissioners  Abernathy,  Copps,  Martin  and  Adelstein. 


 --  FCC  -- 
 For  further  information  contact  Erica  H.  McMahon  or  Richard  D.  Smith  at  202-  418-  2512,  Consumer  &  Governmental  Affairs  Bureau. 


 CG  Docket  02-  278. 
1