Faxes get the ax.

• Position: Trends And Transitions - Brief Article

Companies can't send unsolicited advertisements to a fax machine. It's outlawed under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 and Federal Communication Commission (FCC) rules. First, they must obtain express written consent.

But there's been an exemption, and the FCC has extended it until Jan. 1, 2005. If businesses can prove that they have an "established" relationship with the recipient, they can fax unsolicited advertisements. Courts, however, are divided on the definition of an "established business relationship."

But at least 13 legislatures have imposed additional restrictions on fax advertising. In Colorado, for example...