Comments:

Regarding: CAN-SPAM Act, Project No. R411008To the Commissioners,I am president of a direct marketing consulting firm, who among many things, teaches clients how to use data effectively and responsibly. Without hesitation, I appluade the US Government's efforts to find ways to rid consumers' e-mail boxes of SPAM. However, I am concerned about the proposed requirement for merchants to maintain suppression lists.Though the effort to further protect consumers is very noble, there are so many problems and costs associated with this idea, and so much damage can be done to consumers and businesses alike, that I beg you to consider this matter most carefully.Requirement of the use of suppression lists willseriously damage many of the legitimate businesses who make information available to consumers on the Web. My specific concern is for businesses who already require permission from the consumer prior to adding them to any list. They're not who CAN-SPAM was designed to put out of business, but it is likely those will be the businesses most harmed.There's also the potential for significant harm toconsumers, because of the problem of properly knowing their intent when they unsubscribe from a list. On top of that, these suppression lists will likely fall into the hands of spammers, increasing SPAM, not deminishing it. I believe the best way to get at the throats of these spammers, is to go for their jugular (merchant processors) rather than regulating honorable businesses into extinction. Make rules for merchant processors who support spammers and put stiff penalties on them. It's closing the pocketbooks that will stop the spammers. They have no regard for law or respect for individual rights. Likely, many are not even US citizens.Perhaps establishing a board that includes business people like me will help you identify new ways to shut SPAM down. But please, be very cautious about regulations that can hurt businesses--especially emerging small businesses who play by the rules-- that are providing a real service to consumers.With sincere respect,Tom Magadieu Your State and Country