What do nonprofits need to do to comply with the new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules on fax communications?
Response: Effective January 1, 2005, nonprofit organizations will be required to obtain express written permissions to send unsolicited fax advertisements that contain “commercial” content, i.e., promote memberships, products, programs, and services. An established business relationship no longer constitutes permission to send unsolicited commercial faxes. The FCC recommends that nonprofits seek written permission to send faxes to donors, members, constituents, and other parties prior to January 1, 2005. After the new rules become applicable, faxes must include date and time of the fax, legal name of the sender (not the entity that sends the fax), and the telephone and fax number of the sender.
