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, as a marketer in a small business that works hard to manage SPAM issues within our company as well as to our customers, the proposed criteria of maintaining suppression files is of grave concern. 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 opt-in publications available on the net. As a consumer, I have taken many efforts to assure that I understand how my name will be used prior to subscribing to these valuable publications. If I am now told that my name and email will be distributed to all the companies as a “do not email list” then I will have to decline all of my subscriptions. Unfortunately I can not rely on the high moral standards of the typical SPAM culprits to leave my name and information alone. With the current amount of SPAM that I receive, while being careful, I can only imagine the things that will cross my desk. In addition, the likely outcome of this new regulation will be the closing of many legitimate small businesses that will not be able to afford the additional costs associated with this practice. Have you considered how these upstanding companies, who will be compelled to follow the laws, will find the resources to send their precious files all over the globe? This type of regulation will force companies to re-think their marketing strategies and find other alternatives. CAN-SPAM was designed to put those companies who are breaking and bending the laws out of business —not the ones who are working diligently to maintain a relationship with their customers. I am very concerned 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, Kelly Cusick Holmes Corporation Eagan, MN USA