BIG “I” WEIGHS IN ON JUNK FAX PREVENTION ACT
Association supports S. 714 in testimony submitted to Senate committee
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 13, 2005—The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”) today submitted testimony to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee in support of S. 714, the Junk Fax Prevention Act.
The Big “I” noted in its testimony that S. 714 would restore an exception allowing businesses to communicate via fax in the context of “existing business relationships.” This ability was curtailed in 2003 when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) changed its interpretation of the law in a manner that would force every association, nonprofit organization and charity to obtain prior written approval from each individual before sending a commercial fax.
“The Big ‘I’ feels it is crucial that associations, nonprofits and charities have the right to send fax transmissions to individuals and organizations with whom they have a clearly established, existing business relationship,” says Charles E. Symington Jr., Big “I” senior vice president of government affairs and federal relations. “Our association, and its affiliated state and local organizations, regularly use faxes to communicate effectively with our membership, by which we provide them information they expect and rely upon. The onerous FCC regulations sharply curtail our ability to communicate with our own members.”
“We believe this bill is the right legislation at the right time,” says Patrick O’Brien, Big “I” director of federal government affairs. “Associations, nonprofits and charities should not be forced to shoulder the burden of written consent forms for dozens, hundreds or even thousands of their own members. To restore this exception would enable the FCC to focus its efforts on those who are truly abusing their fax capabilities, while leaving legitimate communications alone.”
Founded in 1896, the Big “I” is the nation’s oldest and largest national association of independent insurance agents and brokers, representing a network of more than 300,000 agents, brokers and their employees nationally. Its members are businesses that offer customers a choice of policies from a variety of insurance companies. Independent agents and brokers offer all lines of insurance—property, casualty, life, and health—as well as employee benefit plans and retirement products. Web address: www.independentagent.com.
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