Comments:

Re: CAN-SPAM Act Rulemaking, Project No. R411008 To the Commissioners, As legitimate newsletter publisher residing in the UK, I have been very concerned to read about your proposed changes to the CAN-SPAM act that would require merchants to maintain suppression lists. Curtailing the problem of spam is something that every responsible Internet marketer and user must applaud, but this is not the way forward. 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. 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. CAN-SPAM wasn't designed to close down legitimate businesses, but this requirement will very likely have that effect. Individual Internet user's freedoms will also be seriously breached because of the problem of properly knowing their intent when they unsubscribe from a list. Even more problematic is the very real possibility that these suppression lists could fall into the hands of spammers, leading to more spam instead of less. I was quite surprised at the potential problems this ruling could involve, and urge you in the strongest possible terms to reconsider its implementation in light of these problems, Yours faithfully, Martin Avis United Kingdom