CSMS Message: 93-000321

TO : ALL ABI BROKERS.

FROM : ROBYN DAY

SUBJECT : NAF-FLASHFAX SYSTEM

DATE : 03/29/93

3088071
MARCH 29, 1993

CATEGORY: NAF CO:TO:T:A RD

TO: REGIONAL DIRECTORS FOR COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS, DISTRICT
AND PORT DIRECTORS

FROM: DIRECTOR
NAFTA IMPLEMENTATION TASK FORCE

RE: FLASHFAX SYSTEM IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS

PASS TO: IMPORT SPECIALISTS, INSPECTORS, ENTRY OFFICERS AND
OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES SUCH AS BROKERS AND IMPORTERS

THE U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THEIR "FLASHFAX" SYSTEM. THIS SYSTEM IS SIMPLE
AND USER FRIENDLY BECAUSE ALL THAT IS REQUIRED IS A PHONE CALL TO
THE FLASHFAX SYSTEM WHICH PROVIDES STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS FOR
THE CALLER TO FOLLOW. IN ADDITION, FLASHFAX IS EXTREMELY
CONVENIENT AND READILY ACCESSIBLE BECAUSE THE SYSTEM OPERATES 24
HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK.

THE INFORMATION TO BE DISBURSED IS STORED IN THE FLASHFAX
SYSTEM WHERE IT IS RETRIEVED AND TRANSMITTED VIA FACSIMILE IN
RESPONSE TO REQUESTS PLACED THROUGH THE TELEPHONE. THE SYSTEM IS
AN INNOVATIVE PROCEDURE TO FULFILL INFORMATION REQUESTS RECEIVED
FROM THE TRADE COMMUNITY AND U.S. CUSTOMS PERSONNEL THROUGH
FACSIMILE TRANSMISSION. PRESENTLY, THE FLASHFAX SYSTEM IS
ACCESSIBLE ONLY WITHIN THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES. DUE TO
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES SERVICE TO PARTIES IN CANADA AND MEXICO IS
NOT AVAILABLE, BUT WE HOPE TO RESOLVE THIS DILEMMA IN THE VERY
NEAR FUTURE.

THE FOLLOWING SCENARIO DEMONSTRATES HOW A CUSTOMER WOULD PROCEED
TO USE FLASHFAX FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME TO ACQUIRE INFORMATION:

1) DIAL THE FLASHFAX NUMBER (202) 927-1692 OR 927-1694.
THE OPENING MESSAGE STATES WELCOME TO THE NAFTA
FLASHFAX SYSTEM, ITS FUNCTION, AND THE TOTAL NUMBER OF
DOCUMENTS THAT CAN BE REQUESTED PER CALL.

2) THIS SAME MESSAGE STATES THAT TO REQUEST A LIST OF
AVAILABLE DOCUMENTS PLEASE ENTER 0100.

3) THE CALLER WILL PRESS 0100 ON THEIR PHONE AND THE VOICE
PROMPT WILL REPEAT BACK THE NUMBER ENTERED.

4) THE SYSTEM ASKS IF THIS NUMBER IS CORRECT PRESS 9, IF
INCORRECT PRESS 6, THE CALLER ENTERS 9 TO INDICATE THE
SELECTION IS CORRECT.

5) THE SYSTEM WILL ASK IF THERE IS ANOTHER SELECTION TO
ENTER THAT NUMBER OR PRESS POUND IF FINISHED SELECTING.

6) THE CALLER WILL PRESS POUND AND THE SYSTEM WILL THEN
ASK FOR THE FACSIMILE NUMBER WITH THE AREA CODE.

7) THE CALLER ENTERS THEIR FACSIMILE NUMBER AND THE
RECORDING REPEATS THE NUMBER ENTERED ASKING IF THIS IS
CORRECT PLEASE ENTER 9.

8) THE CALLER PRESSES 9 AND THE SYSTEM ASKS FOR THEIR
VOICE TELEPHONE NUMBER OR EXTENSION NUMBER SO THE
DOCUMENTS REQUESTED WILL BE ROUTED DIRECTLY TO THEM.
AT THIS TIME THE CALLER MAY ENTER THEIR EXTENSION OR
THEIR PHONE NUMBER FOLLOWED BY THE POUND SIGN TO
COMPLETE THE TRANSACTION.

9) THE SYSTEM REPEATS THE NUMBER ENTERED AND ASKS THE
CALLER TO PRESS 9 IF CORRECT. THE VOICE PROMPT THANKS
THE CALLER FOR USING FLASHFAX AND FURNISHES INFORMATION
ON THE HOURS AND PHONE NUMBER OF THE NAFTA HELP DESK.
THE INFORMATION REQUESTED IS TRANSMITTED.

NOW THAT THE CALLER HAS A LIST OF AVAILABLE DOCUMENTS OFFERED BY
FLASHFAX THEY CAN CALL BACK TO REQUEST ANY ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION. THAT CALL WOULD PROCEED AS FOLLOWS:

1) THE LIST OF AVAILABLE DOCUMENTS PROVIDES THE FOUR DIGIT
CODE THAT CORRELATES WITH EACH DOCUMENT AVAILABLE. THE
CALLER DIALS (202) 927-1692 OR 927-1694 AND LISTENS TO
THE RECORDED MESSAGE WHICH STIPULATES THAT A CALLER IS
ALLOWED TO REQUEST UP TO 3 DOCUMENTS PER CALL.

2) THE CALLER PRESSES XXXX FOR A SPECIFIC DOCUMENT AND THE
SYSTEM REPEATS THE NUMBER ASKING THE CALLER TO ENTER 9
IF THIS IS CORRECT OR 6 IF INCORRECT. THE CALLER
PRESSES 9 TO TELL THE SYSTEM THIS IS THE CORRECT
SELECTION.

3) AT THIS POINT THE CALLER MAY SELECT ANOTHER DOCUMENT OR
PRESS POUND IF FINISHED SELECTING. TO SELECT ANOTHER
DOCUMENT REPEAT STEP 2, OTHERWISE PRESS POUND TO
COMPLETE THE SELECTION PROCESS. (REMEMBER: THE MAXIMUM
NUMBER OF DOCUMENTS TO BE SELECTED FOR ONE CALL IS 3,
ONCE THE MAXIMUM NUMBER IS SELECTED THE SYSTEM WILL
AUTOMATICALLY ASK FOR YOUR FACSIMILE NUMBER).

4) THE CALLER PRESSES POUND TO FINISH SELECTING AND THE
SYSTEM RESPONDS BY ASKING THE CALLER TO ENTER THEIR
FACSIMILE NUMBER. ONCE ENTERED THE NUMBER WILL BE
REPEATED AND THE CALLER IS TO PRESS 9 IF CORRECT OR 6
IF INCORRECT.

5) THE CALLER PRESSES 9, AND THE SYSTEM REQUESTS THEIR
VOICE TELEPHONE NUMBER OR EXTENSION NUMBER. THE CALLER
ENTERS THEIR TELEPHONE NUMBER OR EXTENSION TO ENSURE
THAT THE DOCUMENTS REQUESTED ARE DELIVERED TO THEM,
FOLLOWED BY THE POUND SIGN TO FINISH THE TRANSACTION.
THE SYSTEM REPEATS THE NUMBER ENTERED AND THE CALLER
PRESSES 9 FOR CORRECT. FLASHFAX THANKS THE CALLER FOR
THEIR PARTICIPATION AND THE INFORMATION IS TRANSMITTED.

NOTE: WHEN THE VOICE PROMPT REPEATS A NUMBER ENTERED AND THE
CALLER MADE A MISTAKE, BY PRESSING 6 FOR INCORRECT, THE
SYSTEM GOES BACK TO THAT SAME MESSAGE SO THEY MAY NOW
ENTER THE CORRECT NUMBER. FOR INSTANCE ON THEIR SECOND
SELECTION THE CALLER ENTERS DOCUMENT NUMBER 0205 WHEN
THEY WANTED 0206, WHEN THE SYSTEM REPEATS THE SELECTION
THE CALLER WILL PRESS 6 FOR INCORRECT. THE SYSTEM WILL
REVERT BACK TO THE MESSAGE THAT ASKED THE CALLER TO
ENTER THE CODE NUMBER FOR THE NEXT DOCUMENT OR PRESS
POUND TO FINISH. THE CALLER CAN THEN PROCEED TO ENTER
0206 FOLLOWED BY THE NUMBER 9 FOR CORRECT.

THE FLASHFAX SYSTEM IS CONVENIENT AND MOST IMPORTANTLY AN
EFFICIENT METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTING INFORMATION. BASED ON THE
NUMBER OF REQUESTS ALREADY RECEIVED ON THE NAFTA HELP DESK LINE
SEEKING WRITTEN INFORMATION, THIS SYSTEM SHOULD BE EXTREMELY
BENEFICIAL IN PROVIDING OPTIMUM CUSTOMER SERVICE TO THE TRADE
COMMUNITY.

QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS NOTICE MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE NAFTA
HELP DESK AT (202) 927-0066.

MARIA P. REBA

Referenced By

CSMS #93-001200