The US Congress has passed a bill to control use of automated diallers and facsimile systems. The bill, which combines elements of proposals passed by the two houses a week earlier, requires the Federal Communications Commission to develop regulations prohibiting unsolicited calls from auto-diallers to private homes or public emergency numbers. Public agencies like schools, however, could still use them to warn of closings, and the police could use them for things like storm warnings. Under the proposal, junk fax messages would be banned, and the Commission would be asked to examine measures for protecting home-owners from unwanted live phone solicitations. While the bill is expected to become law, it could still be amended by vice-president Quayle and his Committee on Competitiveness.
