Comments:

Re: CAN-SPAM Act Rulemaking, Project No. R411008 To the Commissioners, I applaud your efforts to curb the problem of unsolicited bulk email. However, I am concerned about the proposed requirement for merchants to maintain suppression lists. 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. This will add a huge burden of costs and requirements to small businesses, non-profits, membership organizations and other legitimate organizations who must rely on email communications. Requirement of the use of suppression lists will seriously damage many 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. I participate in many personal meeting where people give me their business cards and ask to be added to our mailing list. They opt-in in person, but this legislation does not account for that. Plus subscribers to online servcies rely on emails for up to date information for which they have a paid a fee. Chambers of Commerce and other 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. I was quite surprised 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, Respectfully, Gloria Berthold *REDACTED PERSONAL INFORMATION* Maryland, USA