Blacklisting Service Blocks Email to U.S. FTC Due to Spam Issues

When Josh Tinnin tried to send e-mail to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission this month, he received an unwelcome surprise: He couldn't. Tinnin's message to the FTC bounced back because the agency subscribes to a blacklisting service designed to limit . . .

When Josh Tinnin tried to send e-mail to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission this month, he received an unwelcome surprise: He couldn't. Tinnin's message to the FTC bounced back because the agency subscribes to a blacklisting service designed to limit the amount of spam making its way into the agency's in-boxes. SBC Pacific Bell, Tinnin's Internet service provider, appeared on the blacklist as a haven for senders of junk e-mail.

"I didn't know that the government was using blacklists," said Tinnin, who lives in Fremont, Calif. "That was surprising."

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