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Yahoo, AOL Consider Charging for E-Mail
Posted by wizeGurl
(9780 views)      [E-Mail link]
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| In an attempt to "protect users from spam"--and, coincidentally, earn themselves millions of dollars and create a two-tier e-mail system--Yahoo and AOL are both considering implementing systems in which large companies and frequent commercial e-mailers pay from 1/4 cent to a cent per e-mail. In return for this fee, the mail goes straight to user inboxes, skipping the spam filters that sometimes catch even requested mailings. |
Both companies say that this scheme will not affect individual users or smaller companies that choose not to pay; their messages will still be delivered, but may be diverted by the many spam filters currently in use.
You may notice some similarity between this story, and a recent one about companies who own internet pipelines wanting to charge content providers to put them at the front of the line and deliver their content faster than non-payers. The connection in both cases? Large corporations looking for a way to make big bucks for themselves by giving companies that can afford to pay (in other words, other big corporations) special privileges in the online world.
On Tuesday, Feb. 7, the Senate Commerce Committee will hold a hearing to consider legislation for what has been called Net neutrality--effectively banning Internet access companies from giving preferred status to certain providers of content. The concern is that companies that do not pay could find it hard to reach customers or attract new ones, threatening the openness of the Internet.
If your senator is on the commerce committee, you might want to write them a quick note telling them where you stand on making sure that the internet treats all data equally. We already pay for internet access; we have the right to keep our access to anyone who is willing to provide content. |
Read more about the new e-mail schemes. |
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