Comments:

Though I agree in theory that spam has become a major problem online, I am saddened by the "spam hysteria" and "jump on the bandwagon" of politicians and internet service providers alike. I have spend many hours over almost two years building a solid group of affiliates in the multi-level marketing company I work with. These people WANT to hear from me....but many do not receive my training and support emails. I am very much afraid of the "suppression lists" I am hearing about. Though I have seen some reduction in spam....I have also seen a reduction in emails that I ASKED to receive as they are beling blocked as "spam". At the same time, the constant flow of pornography arrives daily even though I have never once accessed an adult site on my computer. Tracing these emails that ARE spam-trash, I see that most come from outside the US so will not be affected by the CAN-spam act. The problem I personally have with suppression lists and with some reporting methods being used right now is that one person can basically shut down a business simply by pushing a button. Never mind that they SIGNED UP for information on a business online....never mind that they have been receiving information. If they one day decide they don't want to hear from us again...they simply can report as "spam"....and internet marketers are not given any opportunity to prove that the person who is claiming "spam" SIGNED THEMSELF UP for the business. There needs to be a balance here -- and so far there is no balance at all. Having a suppression list would pretty much end all business activity on the internet. Is that what you want? To shut down online business activitiies? I don't think so. The net is entertaining, educational, etc....but it is also the NEW place to work without leaving your home....without driving through traffic....without leaving your children every day. PLEASE, when interpreting the elements of the Can-Spam act, use common sense in administering the provisions. If this act has the effect of shutting down commerce on the internet -- which it could well do -- the internet will be nothing but a toy. The future of commerce in the US may well be in the internet businesses that are trying to obey the laws and operate ethically and profitably. PLEASE do not punish online marketers for the sins of the spammers. Please do not give so much power to individual "reporting" that one disgruntled consumer can damage the business livelihoods of all of us. Thank you for your consideration. Brenda King Team Leader Strong Future International Marketing Group *REDACTED PERSONAL INFORMATION* RE: rewards. As it now stands, a disgruntled ex-affiliate can easily cause major business disruption for a major online marketing company. Giving rewards will only increase the number of false reports....and since all reports seem to be considered "true", the damage is incalculable. The government should not be "internet police"....they sure have never tried to stop JUNK postal mail!