Coalition representing 15 million fights AOL plan

[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Jon Swartz]
A coalition of unlikely partners, including MoveOn.org Civic Action, Gun Owners of America and Association of Cancer Online Resources have joined forces to fight AOL's plan to charge businesses for commercial e-mail. Calling the plan e-mail taxation, the 50-member coalition — with combined membership of more than 15 million — says e-mail from thousands of small businesses and non-profits could be blocked if they don't pay. It has created a website, dearaol.com, set to go online Tuesday with an open letter to AOL. “This is a big step in the direction of a locked-down Internet,” says Eli Pariser, executive director of MoveOn, an advocacy group that sends 3 million to 10 million messages per week. “If this had been around a few years ago, MoveOn would never have existed.” AOL says the first wide-scale use of certified e-mail is necessary to reduce spam and protect consumers from fraud. “AOL remains resolute in its pursuit of improving safety and security,” AOL spokesman Nicholas Graham said. The certified e-mail system would require advertisers to pay $2 to $3 per 1,000 messages to ensure delivery to AOL's 25.5 million subscribers. E-mail of approved companies will come with digital tokens recognized by AOL security defenses. The plan will be implemented in the next month. It is optional. But AOL and its tech partner, Goodmail Systems, cannot guarantee that all non-certified e-mail with Web links and images would get through.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20060228/1b_aol_email28.art.htm

* Diverse groups join forces to fight bulk e-mail fee
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/technology/13976781.htm