Comments:

Re: CAN-SPAM Act Rulemaking, Project No. R411008 To the Commissioners, I appreciate the need to do something about the problem of unsolicited bulk email. However, I am concerned about the implications of the proposed requirement for merchants to maintain suppression lists. The proposed action has so many costs associated with it and dire ramifications for both the legitimate businesses and the consumers alike. Although unsolicited mail is a problem, the convenience of using the Internet for information and for easy purchasing is important not only to the business promoting but also to the consumer looking for products to purchase. In addition, we all look to the internet as a major source of information. As a result, many of us subscribe to multiple newsletters. 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. As I consider the possible ramifications of the proposed action, I am very concerned that it may not only target the problem but also the very reason most people are on the Internet in the first place. I urge you in the strongest possible terms to reconsider its implementation in light of these problems. Respectfully, Sue McLaughlin Washington State, USA