Comments:

To the Commissioners Re: CAN-SPAM ACT Project #R411008 I am sure that a great deal of thought has been given to this proposed act and I applaud your efforts in this matter. But I am convinced that this will do little to curb the advancement of SPAM. Rather, I believe that it will hurt the legitimate businessman or woman who makes a living with their respective businesses on the internet. The rationale behind these regtulations are based on persons obeying regulations. However, spammers or lawbreakers do not follow regulations, therefore these laws are basically unenforceable! Consider this: With a click of a computer key, one can send 100 million emails in a matter of seconds. Of course this is spam, but assuming the sender can be prosecuted, he/she merely opens another email account under an assumed name and if the computer is a telephone dial-up, the ISP changes and they are in operation again. I am also concerned with supplying one's physical address. I am a woman living alone......do you really think that it is a smart move on my part to let millions of fellows know where I live? I don't think so! Our local R.C.M.P. officer nearly had a heart attack when he heard this one! Why is it necessary to maintain suspension lists? Those of us who promote affiliate sites would find this regulation impossible......many affiliate owners would not allow this anyway. It makes much better sense to maintain an AFFIRMATIVE LIST. If one keeps a record of those receivers who wish to receive information, does this not comply with the Act? This whole regulation reminds me of Canada's Firemarms Act meant solely to control the movement of guns throughtout the country and to reduce firemarm related crime. CRIMES WITH FIREARMS HAVE NOT BEEN REDUCED ONE IOTA! Why? Because the crimminal does not follow laws and regulations! They do not use registered guns. They obtain their illegal weapons on the black market as well as other nefarious means. It will be the same with spammers......they will ignore your regulations and continue merrily on their illegal ways. Control spam? Yes, of course, but do not do so in the ways that will NOT hurt the legitimate business-owner. He/she will be forced out of business and the spammers will continue! Concentrate on businesses maintaining legitimate compliance lists from receivers who do wish to receive information. Please do not insist that we put our safety in danger by revealing physical addresses! By all means, insist that Affliate Wesbsite Owners maintain control of their affiliates......insist upon stringent affirmative lists from them. Do not bring in reguations that will force them out of business. I urge you to be realistic! Personally, I have yet to come across any such site that does not stress and impose strict anti-spam policies. I personally have the most effective method of anti-spam..... I USE MY COMPUTER'S DELETE KEY! Yours truly, Glenda Joan Osborne