Comments:

Re: CAN-SPAM Act Rulemaking, Project No. R411008 To the Commissioners, I applaud your efforts to curb the problem of unsolicited bulk email. However, I am concerned about the proposed requirement for merchants to maintain suppression lists. 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. They're not who CAN-SPAM was designed to put out of business, but this requirement will very likely have that effect. 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. On top of that, these suppression lists could easily fall into the hands of spammers, leading to more spam instead of less. Those of us who respect the rights of our fellow internet users post paid advertisements for our newsleters and have subscribers come to US and request membership on our list. Furthermore we require that they confirm their email address from the stated email address. Finally, we do NOT promote pornography or anything of a vulgar nature. This act will destroy businesses that honest, hardworking men and women like myself have struggled to build from the ground up. The American Dream is alive and well, but will not remain so if legislation of this type is allowed to pass. I can not believe that our leaders are so desirous to keep the "little people" in their place. We have a right to pursue Life Liberty and Happiness. Very many innocent businessmen and women, working to help build a better tomorrow for our country will see their dreams ruined by such rulings. 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, Respectfully, John Phillip Skaggs Jr. Waynesboro VA, USA