While the Times is the only daily newspaper serving the region, it is not the sole outlet for information on Web design and related services. The existence and availability of the Internet itself may be a key difference between the Journal-Bulletin case and this one. Based on complaints from the tech organization's members, Mitrokostas said that it's not just Web design and e-commerce that are affected by the Times' advertising policy. It was about the time of the first Digital Summit in February, for which Cape Cod Online was a primary sponsor along with the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, that the advertising policy became well understood, as some Internet companies tried to capture the publicity surrounding the event with ads in the Cape daily. After the paper refused to accept the ads, Mitrokostas said that none of the companies wanted to pursue it.
Advertising is just part of an overall marketing scheme, so they let it drop.
Cape Cod Online is also a primary sponsor for Digital Summit II, scheduled for Sept. 13 at the Sheraton Hyannis. The summit is aimed at teaching businesses how to use the Internet and World Wide Web to promote and enhance their operations. It is not a technology fair for those in the industry, although Web design firms and Internet service providers are among the sponsors and trade show participants. Marty Harper, vice president of small business for the Cape chamber and coordinator for Digital Summit II, did not return a call by press time. Mitrokostas said the tech council board is still looking at what an appropriate response from the council should be, if any.