Comments:

Re: CAN-SPAM Act Rulemaking, Project No. R411008 To the Commissioners, I fully support 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 are NOT who CAN-SPAM was designed to put out of business, but this requirement will very likely have that effect. It would be ironic if the only people left standing after this "intervention" are those who make their living from spam and who have the financial and technical resources to circumvent the spirit and the letter of the legislation - something that most legitimate e-marketers do not. 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. I urge you to reconsider the proposed legislation. Sincerely, Greg Welstead Toronto ON *REDACTED PERSONAL INFORMATION*