BATFE issues further clarification:
"Yes, you may fax the FFL, but the FFL holder must still sign the copy after it is transmitted."
BATFE leaves ambiguous whether they mean the copy which was faxed, or the copy which was received at the remote end, so that they have room to reinterpret in the future.
Beren,
Where did you find this tidbit? It isn't a part of the newsletter. Sounds as if this is something that is a holdover from the old way of doing it, before they made this new announcement. Perhaps they haven't updated the FAQ page.
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Here's the whole section of the newsletter:
CERTIFIED FAXED COPIES OF LICENSES
Section 27 CFR 478.94 requires the following for sales
or deliveries of firearms between licensees:
“A licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed
dealer selling or otherwise disposing of firearms, and
a licensed collector selling or otherwise disposing of
curios or relics, to another licensee shall verify the
identity and licensed status of the transferee prior to
making the transaction. Verification shall be established
by the transferee furnishing to the transferor a certified
copy of the transferee’s license and by such other means
as the transferor deems necessary:...”
This section of the regulations requires a licensee to
verify another licensee’s status prior to making sales or
deliveries to such licensee. Please be advised that ATF
will now recognize a faxed copy of a Federal firearms
license as an acceptable alternative form of verification.
ATF strongly suggests that FFLs utilize the FFLeZ
Check system and verify the authenticity of the
transferee’s license prior to shipping or disposing of a
firearm(s) to another licensee.
In addition, verification and certification of a license
is not considered valid unless a legible copy of
the transferee’s license clearly identifies the name,
address, license number and expiration date of the
license. Acceptance of blurred or illegible copies of a
transferee’s license may constitute noncompliance with
regulations.
Finally, since all fax machines and settings differ, FFLs
may need to fax with a fax resolution setting of fine,
super fine, or photo to ensure the fax copy of the
license is legible.