The invention is directed to techniques of facilitating document transmission from one entity through an electronic communications network. An entity may be a legally recognized person such as a corporation, partnership, organization, government, individual, and the like. As a legally recognized person, an entity may act as a principal with respect to one or more authorized agents. Furthermore, as a legal person, an entity may authorize one or more of its agents to use fax transmission equipment such as the fax certification system described herein. The techniques of this invention assure a second entity that a first entity has indeed authorized its agent to send a document from a fax station under the controls of the first entity.