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. 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, Nikki Summers Kansas, USA P.S. There are still many of us who have not fully recovered from the financial fallout of the events of 9/11. Since I am among those, I have turned to the internet as an avenue for earning a living. Without a background in marketing, I have taken my cue from those already making a living online, as to how to market on the internet. The CAN-SPAM Act is making everything so complicated, that an individual as myself without any legal training, is at risk for losing all that I am working for. It is my feeling that this Act is fostering more problems in the area of detection and enforcement, and will end up criminalizing MANY well-intentioned persons who are operating as sole proprietors without the time and money resources to sort through the legalities of this ACT everytime we want to send an email. This is an example of government intervention at its worst. Really, people are capable of hitting their delete button on emails that don't grab their interest. Just with telemarketing calls, the simplest approach is just to say, "No, thank you." And that's what I want to say to the CAN-SPAM Act: "No, thank you!"