It looks like AOL is setting up a new system to have people to pay to be on their whitelist.

The accreditation application processing fee is regularly $399.00. A special charter price of $199.00 will apply to all applications submitted by July 31, 2006. The accreditation application fee is non-refundable. Please review the Accreditation Criteria before beginning your application.
What is the CertifiedEmail Program?
The CertifiedEmail Program, delivered through participating ISPs and mailbox providers, provides a safer class of email with reliable delivery to the inbox--not a junk or bulk mail folder--and places a trust symbol in the email interface so that email users can more safely open and respond to CertifiedEmail messages
http://postmaster.aol.com/whitelist/certifiedemail.html