An American company steps up to fight Big Tech censorship | Blaze Media

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses how an American company, American Cloud, is stepping up to provide cloud hosting services as an alternative to major tech companies like Amazon Web Services (AWS) that have been increasingly engaging in political censorship and deplatforming of certain websites and online services.

🙋 Q&A

[01] An American company steps up to fight Big Tech censorship

1. What is the key issue the article discusses?

• The article discusses how major cloud service providers like AWS have been increasingly engaging in political censorship by deplatforming certain websites and online services, and how an American company called American Cloud is trying to provide an alternative to counter this trend.

2. What is American Cloud's approach to providing cloud hosting services?

• American Cloud aims to provide reliable and accessible digital infrastructure to any U.S.-based business, regardless of their political or ideological views, as long as their activities are legal.
• The company owns its own data center, networking, and infrastructure, giving it more control and independence compared to relying on third-party providers.
• American Cloud claims to offer better pricing and service compared to AWS, with customers seeing 25-80% cost savings.

3. How does American Cloud plan to avoid being subject to similar censorship as other providers?

• American Cloud is upfront about its commitment to supporting legal commerce, even if it disagrees with the content or views of its customers.
• The company owns its entire infrastructure, including the data center, power, cooling, networking, and servers, giving it more control and independence.
• American Cloud has contracts with multiple Tier 1 network providers and even owns its own dark fiber, ensuring it has backup internet connections if one provider cuts ties.
• The company is also prepared to run the data center on diesel generators if the power utility were to cut off electricity.

[02] A highly prepared cloud provider

1. What is the background of American Cloud's CEO and co-founder, Aron Wagner?

• Aron Wagner served in the U.S. Army as a Ranger in the 82nd Airborne, participating in Operation Inherent Resolve against ISIS in Iraq.
• After his Army tenure, Wagner interned at a data center consultancy firm, where he developed a passion for digital infrastructure and the internet.

2. How does American Cloud's preparedness and self-reliance differentiate it from other cloud providers?

• American Cloud owns its entire infrastructure, including the data center, power, cooling, networking, and servers, giving it more control and independence compared to relying on third-party providers.
• The company has contracts with multiple Tier 1 network providers and even owns its own dark fiber, ensuring it has backup internet connections if one provider cuts ties.
• American Cloud is also prepared to run the data center on diesel generators if the power utility were to cut off electricity, demonstrating a high level of preparedness.

[03] American Cloud for all

1. What is American Cloud's target audience and pricing strategy?

• American Cloud's target audience is U.S.-based businesses, not just those that have been underserved by other cloud providers.
• The company aims to offer better service at a better price point, with customers typically seeing 25-80% cost savings compared to AWS.
• American Cloud is not a purely ideological company, but rather focuses on providing better value and service to its customers.

2. What additional feature is American Cloud planning to introduce?

• The article mentions that American Cloud plans to start accepting cryptocurrency payments later this year.