Comments:

As a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS, I appreciate this opportunity to comment on the Federal Trade Commission's proposal on the Controlling th Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003. As an independent businessman who is force to deal with a flood of offensive and fraudulent emails in my inbox each day and as one who sends email in the course of my real estate business, I have a significant interest in the outcome of this rulemaking process. I believe that establishment of a Do-Not-Email Registry goes too far and will result in penalizing small businesses that engage in legitimate email communication with past clients and consumers living in the neighborhoods that they serve. Real estate brokers and agents commonly use emails to share information about issues and changes in local real estate markets that impact their past and potential future client's largest family asset - their homes. Such emails are an important part of our efforts to serve past clients and to cultivate an ongoing personal relationship with consumers living in the communities in which we live and work so that at a future time when they require real estate brokerage services they will look to us for our help. Last year, realtor-owned businesses were subjected to several new federal regulations (Do-Not-Call and Do-Not-Fax regulations, CAN SPAM provisions), which have greatly impacted the ordinary course of business between real estate professionals and our customers. I believe that a Do-Not-Email Registry would have a significant negative impact on real estate. The real estate industry is a vital part of our economy, and I urge you not to institute any more regulations that negatively affect this vital part of our economy. Sincerely, Earl M. Walker