Comments:

Re: CAN-SPAM Act Rulemaking, Project No. R411008 Dear Commissioners, Just a quick note as a US business owner to let you know how important it is that the free market be allowed to flow on the internet as easily as it flows in the rest of the business world. This letter I'm sending you is an ininvited peace of email encouraging you to take a specific action -- specifically the action of voting against taking action that will curtail the ability of business owners to conduct business via the internet. People have the ability to delete unwanted mail simply by tossing it into the garbage can after a quick glance at the teaser copy on the envelope or after they scan the first paragraph when they open it. People also have the ability to delete their email unread after a quick glance at the subject line, or after reading the first paragraph when they open it up. Please don't govern whether or not I can receive information that may be of interest to me. Please don't govern whether or not I can send an email to someone I don't know if I have information that may be of interest to them. For instance, I just sent out an email the other day on behalf of a foundation I do work with, attempting to track down a former employee at a cruiseline whom we wanted to invite to join us for an event we're hosting later this year. By sending this email out to everyone we know who might have information regarding this person, we would be violating the law. Another client is an institute that has begun certifying professional organizers -- and sent out a mass e-mail mailing to professional organizers on line, to let them know about the new program that is available. Rather than work to govern the delivery of electronic mail, how about focusing on something even more important about electronic mail: the information contained in them. Just as we require truth in advertising in print, radio and television, it's the content of the message that needs to be monitored, much more than the delivery of the message. I hope you'll join me in making the internet a safer medium for the exchange of information in a way that doesn't violate the basic tenants of the free market system. Cordially yours, Paula Langguth Ryan Pellingham Casper Communications North Carolina, USA