Unfortunately, Goodmail Systems has other plans. On Oct. 26, America Online Inc. and Yahoo! Inc. adopted an e-mail postage system that places a tax on certified e-mail delivery for bulk mailers in an attempt to address the issue of spam and phishing, the act of sending e-mail that requests personal information from what seems to be a legitimate company. Phishers hope that e-mail recipients might actually enter personal information such as bank account and pin numbers — so they can wipe out your entire account.

Messages sent via Goodmail Systems’ pay-to-send CertifiedEmail system will display a “trust symbol” to identify them, according to (www.postmaster.com). Any bulk mailer not a member of the system may have mail sent to user’s junk mail boxes.

Bulk e-mailers must apply to Goodmail Systems to become accredited at a non-refundable cost of $399. (On sale until June for $199.) After acceptance, members will have to pay between one-tenth to one-fourth of a cent for every message sent to every address on the mailing list on the basis of the amount of e-mail the user sends per month, according to the David Atlas, the vice president of Goodmail marketing.

In February, AOL finally launched its plan of adopting the Goodmail system onto mailers. Why should you care?

While the average e-mail user may shed no tears for annoying spammers and malicious phishers, the fee may cause problems for nonprofit, charity and political organizations, as well as labor unions and small businesses.

Groups aiming to raise funds for causes such as HIV prevention or informing the public about political measures that threaten the environment may not be able to afford to spread the word.

Such organizations do not necessarily need to apply for this program; however, if they do not, there is no guarantee that the e-mail they send will reach the intended recipients. They will never know if their e-mails reached recipients.

We all hate spam, but legitimate businesses and organizations should not pay the price for those who abuse e-mail. Besides, who can doubt that spammers and phishers will find a way to get around the system?

AOL and Yahoo! are two of the most influential powers in the national and global communications market. Other internet service providers will likely mimic their guaranteed e-mail system. And who knows what they’ll charge for next.

AOL’s old system, the Enhanced Whitelist, which will be phased out by June, provides bulk e-mailers who meet certain requirements with the privilege of displaying pictures and links. The only difference is that it is free.

The Goodmail Systems plan will make three corporations, Goodmail Systems, Yahoo! and AOL, big bucks at the expense of many other organizations and small businesses.

An anonymous Open Letter to AOL is posted online (www.dearaol.com) for anyone to sign who feels that AOL should drop this misguided plan.