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Re: problem with AOL addresses



Back story:

    From: Haines Brown <brownh@hartford-hwp.com>
    Date: Thu, 22 May 2003 09:07:37 -0400
    Subject: problem with AOL addresses
    X-Mozilla-Status: 0004
										
    I sent a query to the list and it went out, but the message going
    through AOL bounced:
										
    >   ----- Transcript of session follows -----
    > ... while talking to mailin-01.mx.netscape.net.:
    > <<< 550-The IP address you are using to connect to AOL is a dynamic
    > <<< (residential) 550-IP address.  AOL will not accept future e-mail
    > <<< transactions from your 550-IP address until your ISP removes
    > <<< your IP from its list of dynamic 550-(residential) IP
    > <<< addresses.
										
    This problem apparently is not new (from 2000: "Ist das Dreist oder
    was?") but it has hit me only in the last couple of weeks.

    Apparently, in a clumbsy (everyone seems to agree) effort to block
    spam, AOL does a reverse DNS lookup, which fails when the sender's
    IP address is dynamic (no mx record). On the other hand, it has
    been suggested that AOL is simply filtering access to certain
    ranges of cable and DSL IP addresses.

As several people have pointed out, "residential" DSL, cable, and other
broadband connections are being denied at AOL's MX.

on Thu, May 22, 2003 at 01:00:46PM -0400, Kenneth Dombrowski (kenneth@ylayali.net) wrote:

> there was a thread mid-april called "MTA: usage of smart host" in which
> Karsten Self links to a slashdot article on the subject


While I only deal with a very small number of AOL addressees, one
happens to be my mother.  AOL's completely misstated (or failed to make
clear) the situation to my Mom.  I'm not the only person affected -- most 
of her associates similarly can't send mail.  I'm trying to get her to
switch ISPs.  I recommend that if you do control your own mail gateway,
you similarly block AOL outbound email.

There's been some documentation, most of it linked from here, including
the Slashdot article, Linux-Elitists post, and an InternetNews.com
article:

    http://z.iwethey.org/forums/render/content/show?contentid=96264


Please note that Erin Joyce grossly misrepresented my statements from
our interview, specifically when stating "AOL is violating a standard of
people sending large quantities of mail", painting me as a spammer.  I'm
not -- I'm merely trying to get the odd mail out to my Mom (and trust
me, she'd rather I sent more rather than fewer emails).

I advise you not allow yourself to be quoted by Ms. Joyce should you
find yourself given the opportunity.  InternetNews.com has failed to
publish my response letter, or return phone calls on the subject.  I
consider this grossly unprfessional conduct.


Peace.

-- 
Karsten M. Self <kmself@ix.netcom.com>        http://kmself.home.netcom.com/
 What Part of "Gestalt" don't you understand?
   A guide to GNU/Linux browsers:
     http://twiki.iwethey.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/NixBrowsers



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