Comments:

Re: CAN-SPAM Act Rulemaking, Project No. R411008 To the Commissioners, Your efforts to curb the problem of unsolicited bulk email (spam) are to be applauded. I receive 300+ of these unsolicited emails every day. However, I am concerned about the proposed requirement for merchants to maintain suppression lists. You see, I'm trying to make a living via Internet Marketing. My (by subscription only) newsletter goes out to over 30,000 people. I sell products and have others sell them for me via Affiliate programs. It's hard to conduct a legitimate business on the Internet...I am concerned that some of the provisions in the Can-spam act, Suppression Lists may make it harder for the honest small business person to make a living...and it'll have little or no effect on the spammers. There are so many problems and costs associated with this idea, and so much damage done to consumers and businesses alike, that I feel I must urge you to consider this matter most carefully. After all, we don't want to throw the baby out with the dirty bath water. Requirement of the use of suppression lists will seriously damage many of the legitimate publications available on the net. My specific concern is for harm to publishers who require permission from the consumer prior to adding them to any list. These are the people that could be put out of business by CAN-SPAM...even though they're not who CAN-SPAM was designed to put out of business, but this requirement will very likely have that effect...while the real spammer continues to polute our emails. There's also the potential for significant harm to consumers, because of the problem of properly knowing their intent when they unsubscribe from a list. Of even greater concern...these suppression lists could easily fall into the hands of spammers, leading to more spam instead of less. I strongly feel something must be done... But, suppression lists will do harm to the legitimate business and have little or no effect on those who are creting the problem. I urge you in the strongest possible terms to reconsider its implementation in light of these problems. Warmly, George Callens 507-380-9320 http://www.cyberdell.com 1411 Fair St Mankato, MN 56001