This was initially meant for real estate professionals that run their own sites. But I am putting it out here on a public forum in case it is of interest to anyone casually stopping by. It certainly is a topic of great importance.
What if your web site suddenly slowed to a crawl – permanently? How loyal would your readers be?
Remember all the proxy errors we went through on Active Rain last year? Remember how it impacted your business and how your readership suffered? What if this sort of “slow lane” became permanent?
While the bloggers and tweets of the world have been sleepwalking, taking for granted that what they have will always be there, the big telecom companies have been poised to make a big power play that could spell the end of the ability for small businesses to compete with the big boys on line.
What have we been taking for granted you ask?
It can be summed up in two words: net neutrality. That’s what we have right now and we are taking for granted that it will always be there. the telecom companies have been plotting and planning. They want the END to net neutrality and the first nails are already in the coffin. They want to be able to charge for “preferential service” So those who have deep pockets get the fast lane – and since the bandwidth is finite – everyone else Sssssllllllllloooooooowwwwws down.
If your site won’t open you are dead in the water!
That’s a fact and telecom companies know that. What if your site slowed to a crawl but Trulia snapped right open as did Zillow and that Coldwell Banker site. Are your readers still going to remain loyal – even if it takes 30 minutes for a page on your site to load? I wouldn’t count on it. Besides, where would your new readers come from?
Verizon and Google have already been in talks behind closed doors. SaveTheInternet.com has been highly critical of the results. They are making a power and money grab for the wireless internet that will leave thousands of small businesses like yours and mind – behind.
Here is a link to a previous post on net neutrality and its implications. The blog is information-packed (including two excellent videos). Take this seriously folks. The issues affect not only our businesses but our freedom of speech, innovation, creativity, our ability to compete with other countries in the 21st century – you name it – its on the table with this very important issue.
© 2010 – Ruthmarie G. Hicks -http://thewestchesterview.com. All rights reserved.
