Comment Number: EREG-522 Docket:04-06268
Received: 4/23/2004 1:41:46 PM
Organization: N/A
Commenter: Rich Van Donk
State: CA
Agency: Federal Trade Commission
Rule: CAN-SPAM ANPR
Docket ID: [3084-AA96]
No Attachments

Comments:

Re: CAN-SPAM Act Rulemaking, Project No. R411008To the Commissioners,I applaud your efforts to curb the problem ofunsolicited bulk email. However, I am concerned about the proposed requirement for merchants to maintain suppression lists. This will help create more spam by unscrupulous person collecting the data to e-mail out on. You will be giving them FREE lists. And how could I possibly e-mail my business customers names to other competitors. You have got to be kidding. Rethink this. Get rid of spam but keep the communication doors open for those who wnat to go through them.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 willseriously damage many of the legitimate publicationsavailable on the net. My specific concern is for harm topublishers who require permission from the consumerprior to adding them to any list.They're not who CAN-SPAM was designed to put out ofbusiness, but this requirement will very likely havethat effect.There's also the potential for significant harm toconsumers, because of the problem of properly knowingtheir intent when they unsubscribe from a list. On topof that, these suppression lists could easily fall intothe hands of spammers, leading to more spam instead ofless.I was quite surprised at the potential problems thisruling could involve, and urge you in the strongestpossible terms to reconsider its implementation in lightof these problems,Respectfully,Rich Van DOnkCalifornia, USA