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NAR Testifies in Support of Junk Fax Bill
WASHINGTON (April 13, 2005) – The National Association of Realtors today called on Congress to act quickly on legislation that would alleviate problems created by new do-not-fax rules for consumers and businesses alike. Dave Feeken, a Realtor with RE/MAX of the Peninsula in Kenai, Alaska, urged Congress to approve the Junk Fax Prevention Act, S. 714, in testimony today before the Senate Commerce Committee on behalf of NAR.
The bill, which is similar to legislation approved by the House of Representatives and Senate last year before time ran out, was reintroduced last week by U.S. Sens. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.), Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), Conrad Burns (R-Mont.), Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and John Sununu (R-N.H.).
NAR strongly supports efforts to limit unsolicited faxes, including the creation of a new consumer right to opt out of receiving faxes even from those with whom the recipient has an established business relationship. However, the association believes that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) went too far by requiring signed, written permission before sending faxes. NAR estimates that Realtors would have been forced to create and store over 66 million permission forms to sustain the over 6 million home sales transactions that occurred last year.
“Unless Congress acts soon, Realtors will not be able to fax property listings to consumers who call to request such information without first getting written permission,” said NAR President Al Mansell, CEO of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Salt Lake City. “NAR urges Congress to pass legislation that eliminates junk faxes without creating costly regulations that hinder consumers from receiving requested information in a timely manner.”
The FCC granted an extension, which expires June 30, 2005, to give Congress more time to complete consideration of do-not-fax legislation in response to a petition filed by NAR and state associations of Realtors. NAR is also a member of the Fax Ban Coalition, a broad-based group of over 600 businesses and trade organizations, which also filed a petition requesting a six-month delay in the effective date of new do-not-fax rules.
The National Association of Realtors, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing 1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.For more information contact:
Linda M. Johnson, 202/383-7536
lmjohnson@realtors.org
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