Happenings: Mailinglists.com
US Marketing File Update For March 2013 Now Available
The ebb and flow of business formation and inactivity is chronicled and compiled for review in the D&B US Marketing File Update just released. It continues to show the overlapping influences of the winding down of the Great Recession and the gathering momentum of the recovery. While the total file has decreased in size by a small fraction, Super7 completeness remains constant, and may actually rise in 2013 with the addition of Phone, SIC, CEO, Sales and Employees figures.
>Download the 2013 Marketing File Update Fact Sheet
Headlines: Data Industry
Lost In The Mail
A political game of hot potato has come to a head, if not a conclusion with the USPS Board of Governors voting to prohibit the cessation of mail delivery on Saturday, as proposed by Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe last February to trim $2 billion from the USPS operating deficit.
Shortly after Donahoe made the recommendation, Congress effectively cut the legs out from under it by passing a Continuing Resolution funding the USPS as long as it maintained 1984 levels of service, which of course includes Saturday mail delivery (packages are excepted). The rationale for the Board's decision is apparently tied to an absence of authority granted to the USPS to declare such modifications to service, which include delivery schedules and price increases. It is apparently hoped such authority may be granted by law in the future.
The Direct Marketing Association and the American Catalog Mailers Association raised concerns about the effect of such schedule changes or rising rates may have on the planning process for Summer/Fall campaigns, certainly on such short notice. The delivery change would have taken effect on August 5.
>Read the complete article in DMNews
CFAA Is DOA (For Now)
Bowing to an onslaught of criticism regarding changes to the Consumer Fraud and Abuse Act, the House subcommittee that was about to vote on a reform of the bill has set it aside until further notice. At stake according to internet activist individuals and organizations is the fundamental nature of everyone's right to use the internet free from the prospect of draconian criminal measures (as in, cruel and unusual punishment) for use deemed "harmful" by service providers and employers. While not advocating for anarchy or truly unlawful use and behavior, the activist community intends to prevent the Justice Department from being able to prosecute citizens who are unaware that their largely benign actions could land them in prison for decades.
> Read the complete article in the Huffington Post