This is the message you get when you go to Keyword: Newsgroups

"Please Note: The AOL Newsgroup service will be discontinued in early
2005.

For members using AOL over a dial-up connection, you will no longer be
able to access Newsgroups. If you have a separate high-speed
connection, you can contact your broadband provider to see if they
offer Newsgroups. Newsgroup services can often be accessed through a
third party reader, such as Mozilla Thunderbird
(http://www.mozilla.org/projects/thunderbird/).

Alternatively, you can access Newsgroups via Google at
http://groups.google.com/.

We apologize for this inconvenience."

-----

AOL usenet users should all send complaint feedback messages to AOL about
this. If enough complain, they may reconsider - but I'm not holding my
breath. Go to keyword Tell Us and send your feedback that way.

It does suck, but I've always thought their internal client access
interface sucked anyway. Instead of putting resources into updating it
or allowing users to use regular, external NNTP software with their
usenet servers, they're dropping it.

Their message is incorrect/misleading - you will be able to access
newsgroups over their dialup connection, but not through their usenet
servers or their internal client interface. You won't have to
necessarily pay to have good access to text groups. See my access page
concerning access to other servers.

http://members.aol.com/whosbest54/access.htm

whosbest54
--
The flamewars are over...if you want it.

Unofficial rec.audio.opinion Usenet Group Brief User Guide:
http://members.aol.com/whosbest54/

Unofficial rec.music.beatles Usenet Group Brief User Guide:
http://members.aol.com/whosbest54/rmb.html