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. Most network marketers are doing their very best to refrain from spamming. They know how important it is to refrain from sending garbage but only sending messages that are directed at helping them earn a good living. I view the blatent advertising of drugs over the air waves as an insult to my intelligence and still I see it in many magazines but I see very little regulation as to that content. Those drugs are murdering us but who is putting a stop to any of it?? The FTC Requirement for 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. For example a simple newsletter which most of us FIRST ASK if a customer wants to receive it. They're not who CAN-SPAM was designed to put out of business, but this requirement will very likely have that effect. DO YOUR JOB, go after those out-of-country scams who are putting that garbage on the web. Can't do that though, can you? Put them on notice, along with the drug pushers, mortgage pushers and debt eliminator pushers ,anatomy patch enhancers etc. etc. 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 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. Perhaps a little more in depth study is necessary before this concept is enacted. Someone needs to really dig into who is doing the dirty work and where is it coming from and can it indeed be stopped by the FTC or will it hurt just the American economy and all of us trying to do our best to provide substance to the internet marketing business. Respectfully, KEN MCVAY nORTH CAROLINA, USA