The line at the top of every fax, and why it's there

What the law actually requires

Under 47 U.S.C. § 227(d)(1)(B), it is unlawful to use a computer or other electronic device to send a fax unless the machine clearly marks, in a margin at the top or bottom of each transmitted page or on the first page, four things:

• The date the fax was sent
• The time it was sent
• The identity of the business, entity or individual sending it
• The telephone number of the sending machine or of that business or individual

A parallel rule, 47 CFR § 68.318(d), applies to the equipment: fax machines manufactured after 20 December 1992 must be capable of marking that identifying information on each transmitted page.

What the header looks like

A single line of small text in the top margin:

The page count isn't legally required, but nearly every machine adds it and recipients expect it. The four required elements are the date, time, sender name and sender number.

Who it applies to

The text of the statute is written broadly, and the safest reading is that it covers any fax you transmit. Some attorneys read the surrounding provisions as aimed primarily at unsolicited advertising faxes, and that argument exists in the case law.

What happens if it's missing

The TCPA provides statutory damages of $500 per violation, which a court may treble to $1,500 for a wilful or knowing violation. Each fax can count separately, so the arithmetic gets ugly quickly for anyone sending in volume.

How FaxProof handles it

You fill in your name and business name once, in Settings → Sender Identity. From then on every page you transmit carries a compliant header built from that identity plus your fax number and the send timestamp.

The header cannot be switched off — only positioned at the top or bottom of the page. That's deliberate. There's no legitimate reason to send without it, and making it optional would only create a way to get into trouble by accident.