So what do Net Neutrality, tubes, Web hosting and the telcos all have in common? I’m going to talk about them all on this week’s edition of the Web Hosting Show. Toss that in with some Web hosting news and a Web site of the week and you’ve got one heck of a good show. Podcast 71 is now on the air.
Download the Web Hosting Show, Podcast 71!
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Hello I am the media rock star of the Web hosting industry Mitch Keeler, and I want to welcome one and all to the number one Web hosting podcast out there today, the Web Hosting Show. This podcast is supported by Web Hosting Chat. While your listening to me here, why don’t you pop in and give them a visit?
Now as I said earlier, this show is all about Net Neutrality. Since this whole debate started I have been getting E-mails each week asking me to cover this topic, so here you go. Now before we get too deep into the rabbit hole, I’m going to play for you a little of Senator Ted Stephens. To catch you up to speed he is the guy in charge of defeating the idea of Net Neutrality so the telcos out there can charge popular Web sites more because they are using up all the Internet!
I’ll be sure to play a little more later in the show as well. Now it is time though to get into this week’s latest news.
Hosting Headline
This week’s Web Hosting Headline is brought to you by the Web Host Magazine & Buyer’s Guide. Go check them out at WebHostMagazine.com.
Web Hosting Pioneer, Superb Internet, Celebrates 10th Anniversary
Founded in 1996, Superb Internet is commemorating 10 years of Web hosting excellence. The company was first to introduce private server technologies and high-bandwidth affordable self-managed dedicated servers. To celebrate, Superb is offering multiple special offers.
Imagine being one of the world’s first ever web hosting companies. Imagine the guts it took to offer a product that was years ahead of it’s time. Then imagine keeping that company thriving after the devastation of the dotcom boom and bust cycle. If you can imagine that, then you can begin to appreciate the achievements of Superb Internet Corporation.
Mitch’s Thoughts: Well let me be the latest to tell Superb Internet happy birthday! Ten years is a long time for any Web host to be a success. When you look at how many open up and fail on a yearly basis, lasting ten years is really a big deal in our industry.
With so many younger companies around as well, it makes Superb look like the wise old grandfather that we could all learn something from. If your one of the younger companies out there, I’d ask these folks how to stand the test of time.
Hot Topic in Hosting
The Hot Topic in Hosting is sponsored by Top Hosts. Go check them out on the Web at TopHosts.com.
What is Net Neutrality?
Now I often try to stay away from politics and my writing (or in this case, broadcasting) but I have been reading about something that I think should be a grave concern of Web hosts and Web hosting clients. How many of you have heard of Net Neutrality? If you haven’t, Net Neutrality is referring to the current state of the Internet where no matter who you are and what you are trying to access, all Internet traffic is treated the same.
Now why is this such a hot debate? Well some of the large telecommunication companies out there want don’t want Net Neutrality. They would rather charge companies like Yahoo, Google and Amazon a little more on the side to make sure the Web site reaches us (the customers) as quickly as it can. If they do not pony up the cash, they get knocked down.
If this happens, it will create a two tier Internet. That is a bad thing in my opinion. It might start with the big guys like Amazon and Google, but you can be rest assured that it would come down to regular Web hosts and Web hosting clients in due time. The Web hosting industry is enjoying growth like it has never seen before and if the telecoms had their way, it would stop.
So how do these large companies defend themselves? Here is a good summary that I found via Lockergnome.com:
Opponents of Net Neutrality (companies like AT&T and Comcast) stress that the Internet is already regulated by several agencies that would not allow them to block access to specific sites and that the free market should be left to shape the future of the Internet.
They go on to stress that in order to take the Internet to the next level of content (video, voice, etc.) they need to be able to charge for it. Innovation gets stifled with regulation, in their opinion.
So do you want to do something about this? That is what a lot of folks are saying right now. The best thing you can do is write your senators and congressmen and ask them where they stand on this issue, and let them know where you stand as well. Do we really want clueless old men who are in the pocket of the telcos to be shaping the face of the Internet? I think not.
Web Hosting Site of the Week
The Web Hosting Site of the Week is brought to you by Ping! Zine. Go check them out and subscribe to the free magazine at PingZine.com.
Staying on the Net Neutrality theme of this week’s show, this week’s pick for Web hosting site of the week is SaveTheInternet.com.
This is the Web site you need to check out if you want to do more research and learn more about the whole Net Neutrality issue. They have tons of great information and links on every inch of the topic. Here is how they describe it all on the Web site:
The SavetheInternet.com Coalition is a real grassroots alliance of organizations, citizens, businesses and bloggers that have banded together to protect Internet freedom. The Coalition believes that the Internet is a crucial engine for economic growth and free speech. We are working together to urge Congress to preserve Network Neutrality, the First Amendment for the Internet that ensures that the Internet remains open to new ideas, innovation and progress.
So go visit SaveTheInternet.com and when you do make sure you let them know that the Web Hosting Show sent you there.
Final Web Hosting Thoughts
Well that is it for this week’s edition of the Web Hosting Show. If you want to interact with this podcast, it is easy to do.
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I am Mitch Keeler, and you have been listening to the Web Hosting Show, the number one Web hosting podcast across the nation and the one and only voice of the Web hosting world.
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