Comments:

Re: CAN-SPAM Act Rulemaking, Project No. R411008To the Commissioners,I am very concerned about the US Government?s proposals and the manner in which it will require legitimate, ethical businesses, especially small businesses, to operate ?suppression? lists. Obviously, to curb unsolicited bulk email may be desirable but the current proposals will create significant overhead costs for small businesses, as well as piling on bureaucratic problems that could very well stifle or retard small businesses working on limited resources. Surely, the CAN-SPAM Act was not intended to virtually shut down many legitimate, ethical businesses.I strongly advise you to reconsider the proposals with great care as there are many problems and expenses associated with the proposals, together with the potential of damage to the interests of both consumers and businesses, that I feel have so far been overlooked. To ignore them further would lead to a serious and costly mistake, with the unintended consequences of the suppression of many, especially, small businesses and free enterprise. My specific interests lie in electronic publication. From what I have read of the proposals, suppression lists will only hamper the distribution of the many legitimate, educational, technical and useful publications electronically available on the internet. For many years now, I have received numerous emails, reports, publications in electronic, sound and video formats from many electronic publishers, and all of them have contained easy opt-out addresses where appropriate which, when I have instructed cessation, have always been acted upon fully and promptly and completely to my satisfaction. The old saying, ?If it ain?t broke, don?t mend it? certainly applies. I trust that your review of the proposals will take into account my representation regarding the potential costs and unintended problems that would arise if the matter goes forward as proposed. In particular, please bear in mind the disproportionate costs and administration that would be involved for small businesses. In the final analysis, the legitimate, ethical businesses, large and small, will probably be hardest hit, while, as usually happens in such cases, the real mavericks will skate all over the system with little or no hindrance. Yours Respectfully,John A. HeeryLondon, N10 3LYUnited KingdomApril 17, 2004