Regulating Unsolicited Faxes And E-Mails

Door-to-door salesman and direct mail marketing campaigns have been replaced by unsolicited fax communications and the unsolicited e-mail advertising phenomenon known as "spam." The great volume of activity in these areas has prompted the federal government to consider (and in the case of faxes, to enact) legislation regulating the use of electronic and telephonic media to solicit and deliver correspondence. In certain instances, the legislation not only regulates the delivery of such solicitations, but provides specific penalties for violations. Unsolicited faxes are now prohibited. Unsolicited e-mail would not be banned but limitations would be placed on the manner of its delivery if pending federal legislation is enacted.