I have intentionally stayed out of that discussion.

We want to make sure that not-for-profits who depend on timely communication with their members get all of the privileges of this powerful medium.

Our focus and goal here is to provide a safer and more secure environment for our consumers, and restore some trust in the e-mail inbox.

While the volume of spam reaching AOL email inboxes has remained at low levels compared to it's height in late 2003, the spam that's out there is more insidious, crafty, devious, and dangerous than ever.

If they get a message from a sender that has images and links enabled one day, and another one the next day where they're not, they tend not to trust that so much, or think there was an error. It sends an unclear message to the consumer.

There will be no requirement, ever, for not-for-profits who deliver e-mail to AOL members to pay for e-mail certification and delivery.