An open letter to the FCC

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Posted by Jim on May 20, 2008 103 views

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From: Jim Skamarakas
Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 6:17 PM
To: KJMWEB@fcc.gov; Michael.Copps@fcc.gov; Jonathan.Adelstein@fcc.gov; dtaylortateweb@fcc.gov; Robert.McDowell@fcc.gov
Subject: FCC database being using to generate junk mail

Commissioners,

It has come to my attention that as a FCC licensed amateur radio operator ‘ham’, my entry in the FCC database is public. This is 100% understandable and acceptable. But what private businesses are doing with this database is a disgrace and having a negative impact on the environment.

The current FCC ham database provides no option for individuals to opt in to share their information with merchants, vendors or resellers. In just the few short weeks since I was licensed, I personally have received 3 pounds of junk mail. Speaking to these vendors has gotten mixed responses from:

-the blunt “to bad, your info is public so deal with it”
-the more blunt “just throw it in the trash if you don’t want it”
-the cooperative “we will add you to our do not mail list”
-the honest “I will add you to stop sending you future junk mail, but if you upgrade or make any changes at the FCC, you will be re-added to our marketing database again”
-the clueless “what’s wrong with getting catalogs in the mail?”

In this day and age of environmental impact, it would be a minimal effort to modify the FCC database listing to include a single field for No Commercial solicitations. By setting this additional entry in the ULS database, and setting it to NO by default, individuals could choose to update their information and if they so choose, update the field to a value of YES. This puts the decision to receive these offerings in the hands of the individuals and sets everyone to a default opting out, allowing them the opportunity to OPT-IN.

Now we all know that some businesses have no concern for the environmental impact of their junk mailings, or of personal opinions of US Citizens. They see the FCC database are their own personal free marketing database. Anything that you can do to make this difficult or impossible to continue would only be of benefit to the citizens of the United States of America.

I respectfully ask you ladies and gentleman to take the time and review what can be done and take that action. A simple addition of a single field to the ULS database, setting all entries to OPT OUT, and allow individuals to update their information to OPT IN, will have a significant and positive impact on our society as a whole. And that is the forwarding thinking leadership and socially positive actions we know you want to do for this great country.

Sincerely

James R Skamarakas
W1SKA