August 15, 2008 – (HOSTSEARCH.COM) – Virtually every key industry and field has a professional trade association to stand up for its interests—whether you are a plumber, doctor, or own a company that manufactures electronic components, you can join one of many trade groups. These groups take on a variety of issues, from educating the public to lobbying the federal government for legislation. In the United States alone, there are nearly 8,000 national industry trade groups and at least half of them have a strong presence in Washington, D.C.
Why then has the Web hosting industry failed to create any substantive trade association to stand up for its interests? Where can the hosted services community turn if it wants a voice before lawmakers? Will a set of business standards ever be developed for an industry that literally lies at the center of electronic commerce? After watching a handful of failed attempts at creating such an organization, a group of industry leaders have finally stepped up the plate and have developed an iron-clad plan to make it happen. This time, with the launch of the Association for Internet and Hosting Service Providers (AIHSP), they say they have it right. HostSearch.com, the Internet’s leading Web hosting resource interviewed Paul Hirsch, President of the AIHSP Founding Committee, to see if this was the case. Their conclusion? “This is going to be an excellent thing for the industry.”
“This initiative already has the momentum to make real changes,” suggested HostSearch.com’s Web Editor, John Hughes. “As Paul Hirsch said in our interview, ‘AIHSP is not a small group of people exercising dominance over the industry. We are creating a system in which the industry as a whole can decide for itself how much mutual support it wants to bestow upon itself’. AIHSP’s objective is inclusion rather than policing from above – it is intent on making the industry reflect inwardly. As a result, there should be no detractors. I believe this initiative will be pivotal.”
Despite the encouragement AIHSP has received to date, the enormity of its task remains daunting. A 14-point agenda outlines how the association will help Web hosts become better employers by securing medical, dental, vision, disability and retirement benefits at competitive rates. It will establish standards that, once met, qualify hosts for “standardized, relevant certification.” It also promises to focus legal resources and political representation, establish a research repository, create a fraud database and develop a certified employment job portal. Possibly most importantly, AIHSP intends to “craft a code of ethics, to which members will be held accountable through peer regulation.”
Given the enormity of their task, why will AIHSP succeed where others failed? Simply put - homework.
“We have taken a lot of time to do our diligence and make sure we have it right,” suggested Mr. Hirsch. “We’ve interviewed people involved in past initiatives to learn why they failed.” Asked what the Association needed from Web hosts to make it a success, Mr. Hirsch added, “We need Web hosts and vendors, consultants and media to speak up about the goals we’ve established, goals we have yet to determine and questions and issues they may have about our efforts. We need people to be an active part of this initiative. Anyone who’s interested in being kept abreast of AIHSP activities is welcome to make their interest known here – www.aihsp.org/Yes. We encourage people to sign up on our online community – http://community.aihsp.org – to participate in AIHSP discussions. Opinions and suggestions of all natures are welcome. For those who are willing to volunteer some time, we encourage them to contact us through the contact page on our site (http://www.aihsp.org/Contact-Us.php).”
To read the full interview and learn more about this important initiative, visit HostSearch.com.
About the Association of Internet and Hosting Service Providers (AIHSP):
The Association of Internet and Hosting Service Providers (AIHSP) represents an innovative collaboration of industry providers and professionals. The Association aims to instill a spirit of cooperation within hosting and related industries and achieve meaningful representation for their shared interests in the public sphere. The industry's first-ever trade association, AIHSP aims to enrich the business environment today and forge meaningful relationships to develop a more vibrant and prosperous future. To learn more about the association visit http://www.aihsp.org/
About HostSearch.com:
HostSearch.com was established in 1997 and provides unbiased information about web hosting providers and the web hosting industry. The site maintains the largest database of information about web hosts available and continually upgrades its service to ensure the information it provides meets the requirements of its visitors. To learn more about HostSearch visit http://www.hostsearch.com. |
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