Comments:

Re: CAN-SPAM Act Rulemaking, Project No. R411008 To the Commissioners, I'm delighted to see that you are trying to do something about the "spam problem." It is definitely out of control, and something needs to be done about the deluge of porn, drug ads, penal enlargement ads, and other garbage that no one in their right minds would ask for. However, I am concerned about how you are trying to solve the problem, particularly the proposed requirement for merchants to maintain suppression lists. I am concerned that you are going after the WRONG people in your zeal to do something about the problem. You are going after the people who are already bending over backwards to insure that they are ONLY emailing people who have requested emails - not the people who are dumping their garbage indiscriminately to every email address they can harvest. 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 will seriously damage most of the legitimate publications available on the net. My specific concern is for harm to publishers who require permission from the consumer prior to adding them to any list. They're not who CAN-SPAM was designed to put out of business, but this requirement will very likely have that effect. There's also the potential for significant harm to consumers, because of the problem of properly knowing their intent when they unsubscribe from a list. On top of that, these suppression lists could easily fall into the hands of spammers, leading to more spam instead of less. Most people are well aware that the worst spammers, who send most of the online spam, operate offshore. They won't even be affected by your proposal. They'll continue to do their spamming, while thousands of small businesses will undoubtedly be put out of business by this ill-advised list. I am very concerned at the potential problems this ruling could involve, and urge you in the strongest possible terms to reconsider its implementation in light of these problems, I certainly understand that you are trying to do something about the spam problem. But as someone who has been doing business on the internet for 5+ years, I can tell you that it will not harm the real spammers - it will only put thousands of people out of business who are generally the most conscientious and scrupulous about emailing only to people who request it. Respectfully, Linda J Bruton 4742 Liberty Rd S #228 Salem, OR 97302