About DUL

The MAPS Dial-up User List collects IP addresses of dial-up ports (and broadband connections with dynamic IP addresses) and distributes them to mail servers, so they can reject mails sent by servers at these addresses.

This is done because spammers often crack computers that are connected via dial-up lines.

Opinion

This is nothing more than a harmful prejudice.

It is as if Germany would reject letting in any people from Poland, just because they are (said to be) more likely to steal cars than others.

My server is as well administered as the servers of companies, if not even better. Why should companies be allowed to run their own mail servers, but I should not, if the only difference is that I can't pay 500+$/month for a leased line?

I am a third-party. I have nothing to do with spamming and never had.

Consequences

Distribution (everybody being able to run his own part of the internet infrastructure) is a basic principle of the internet and a major reason why the internet is so free. Removing this right is as if your right to vote were removed.

In addition to that, I want to run my own server, because it is my job and it is fun. MAPS DUL practically tries to prevent me from that.

And, lastly, the SMTP server of my ISP sucks. So using that is not really an option, even if I wanted to.

MAPS DUL harms me much more than spammers. Spammers can live much better with not reaching 30% of the recipients than I can.

Action

Recipient

If your ISP rejects mail from dynamic IP addresses and I told you so, it rejects my mail to you.

Please

convince your ISP to accept mails from dynamic IP addresses or
Get an email account on a more friendly server, check it regularly (at least daily) and tell me that email address

ISP

If you are an ISP, please do not report IP addresses of dial-up ports to MAPS DUL.

And of course please do not reject mail from dynamic IP addresses.

Sidenotes

I do not object to blocking servers that were really used by spammers, like the former ORBS project.

Update: It seems like the EFF agrees with me:

Any measure for stopping spam must ensure that all non-spam messages reach their intended recipients. Proposed solutions that do not fulfill these minimal goals are themselves a form of Internet abuse and are a direct assault on the health, growth, openness and liberty of the Internet.

(Extract from EFF Statement Regarding Anti-Spam Measures)