AGIS, IEMMC Halt Bulk E-Mail

["Randall S. Benn" <rbenn () ibm net>]

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/97/05/27/y0007_y00_14.html
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Tuesday May 27 5:49 PM EDT
>
> Company Press Release
>
> Source: AGIS; IEMMC
>
> AGIS, IEMMC Halt Bulk E-Mail
>
> DEARBORN, Mich., May 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Worldwide Internet access
> provider AGIS (Apex Global Internet Services, Inc.) has challenged all
> members of the Internet E-Mail Marketing Council (IEMMC) to stop
> originating all bulk e-mail through the AGIS network. Under the terms
> of this agreement, Cyber Promotions, Cybertize E-mail, Integrated
> Media Promotions, ISG, and Quantum Communications agreed to cease
> sending unsolicited commercial e-mail (UCE) through the AGIS network
> until the IEMMC delivers a working filtration system and acceptable
> use policies.
>
> AGIS, founded in 1994 and one of the original ``big six'' Internet
> companies, has been at the center of a recent controversy for
> providing Internet connections to corporations that send unsolicited
> commercial e-mail to Internet users. The Company said that members of
> the IEMMC agreed to suspend bulk e-mail services on Sunday, May 25th,
> 1997.
>
> ``IEMMC's acceptance of the AGIS request attests to our commitment to
> promoting the ethical use of bulk e-mail in this emerging global
> industry,'' said Walt Rines, IEMMC President. ``IEMMC members have
> ceased to send commercial e-mail until the solution is officially
> implemented.''
>
> The IEMMC recently announced its first termination of a bulk e-mail
> abuser's account. On May 16th at 9 p.m. EDT, an offender using a
> dial-up America Online account and hijacking UUNet International
> relays was found to be uploading a large quantity of unsolicited
> e-mail to Internet users. IEMMC then notified Quantum Communications,
> an IEMMC founding member, which quickly terminated the user's account.
>
> ``It has been AGIS' concern that if we were to disconnect bulk
> e-mailers from our network that they would continue to abuse the
> Internet from somewhere else. Instead, by gaining their cooperation
> and founding an organization that serves as a watchdog for e-mail
> abuse, there exists a system of checks and balances which can serve as
> a long term solution,'' said Cary Joshi, AGIS Director of Corporate
> Development. ``However, until the system is firmly in place, we
> believe it is necessary to put a stop to all bulk e-mail emanating
> from customers on our network. The IEMMC has agreed to cooperate in
> this effort.''
>
> Sanford Wallace, President of Cyber Promotions, said, ``We welcome the
> challenge of implementing a set of rules and regulations, as well as
> the technological solutions necessary to make the bulk e-mail industry
> acceptable to Internet users. With the technological assistance of a
> company of AGIS' caliber, it has become possible to keep bulk e-mail
> away from those who are strongly opposed to it.''
>
> AGIS (www.agis.net), founded in 1994, provides Internet access to
> millions of users via its extensive customer base of Regional Bell
> Operating Companies, content providers, large corporations, and
> Internet service providers. A technology leader and innovator, AGIS is
> the first Internet access provider to deploy ATM technology to operate
> a national backbone network, the first to offer commercial 155 Mbps
> connections to the 'Net, the first to reduce points of failure in a
> network by using switching technologies, the first to design a
> wholesale business model (so as not to compete with customers by
> selling retail access), and the first to provide multiple distribution
> centers for content replication (CooLocation). AGIS offers Internet
> connectivity from 56 Kbps to 155 Kbps.
>
> AGIS is headquartered at 3601 Pelham Road, Dearborn, Michigan 48124
> Phone: 800-380-AGIS, Fax: 313-563-6119; E-mail: info () agis net
>
> The mission of the IEMMC (www.iemmc.org) is to promote responsible
> commercial e-mail marketing as an industry and to establish an
> industry standard of procedures and ethics which will internally
> regulate and govern member activities. Initial implementation plans
> include a global remove list, accurate and identifiable header and
> relay requirements, authorized SMTP use only, prohibition of
> electronic retaliation, and adherence to all policies, practices, and
> code of ethics of the IEMMC. The organization will serve as a watchdog
> for the prevention of commercial e-mail abuse.
>
> -----------------------
> SOURCE: AGIS; IEMMC
> Contact: George Kelly of AGIS, 313-730-1130; or Walt Rines of IEMMC,
> 603-772-4096


-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Randall S. Benn                          http://www.clark.net/pub/rbenn
Internetworking Consultant               rbenn () clark net
CCIE #1637                               Reston, VA  USA
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -