19 Presidential Candidates In Search Of A Broadband Policy

Telecom Policy Report, July 23, 2007

That, of course, was before 9/11 and before Islamic terrorists established their own Web sites. Then again, perhaps several of the candidates would have been better off not taking a position on broadband, given their obvious lack of understanding and knowledge.

Dennis Kucinich

Dennix Kucinich, one of the Democratic congressmen from Ohio, is another net-neutrality advocate. Yawn.

More interestingly, he's made a big issue of what he calls "media reform." On his calendar as chairman of a subcommittee of the House Government Reform Committee are hearings at which he reportedly plans to take the FCC to task for not ensuring that "electronic media shall serve in the public interest, convenience and necessity" as mandated by the Federal Communications Act of 1934.

There is one worry, though. Kucinich may well, for political purposes, misuse his subcommittee in order to create a stage on which to push net neutrality. That's not what the subcommittee was created for.

Bill Richardson

New Mexico's Gov. Bill Richardson is last on the list, but we think not least. The governor in this year's budget made a push for expanding the broadband infrastructure in his state, particularly in support of public safety, schools and so-called "telehealth." Somehow the WCA called that a show of support for rural broadband, but we think they got it wrong. Richardson did, indeed, also support a bill calling for an expansion of the states rural broadband networks, but what we see goes well beyond.

Richardson also struts his stuff as the person who led his state to a settlement with Qwest last year under which Qwest is plowing $265 million into technology for the state's schools.

In all, it looks like Richardson has the best credentials of the Democratic entire crew - as the only one in the field who can point to success in doing more than jawing about how important broadband is to the poor, to the uneducated, and to the companies seeking a free ride on someone else's network.

The Republicans

As dismal as we find most of the Democratic candidates' positions on broadband, the Republican candidates don't fare much better in our estimation. For starters, it was on a Republican watch that the United States' broadband standing in the world plummeted. Thus, we finds it little surprise that least some of the Republican candidates are taking (gulp) the same positions as their Democratic opponents, perhaps in the belief it's what the voters want.

Sam Brownback

Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, for instance, is touted as a strong advocate of rural broadband; he even introduced rural-broadband legislation back in 2001. We'll forgive him - back then, satellite broadband cost a fortune. Mercifully, he hasn't introduced any new rural schemes lately.

Brownback has positioned himself as a net-neutrality opponent.

Jim Gilmore

Jim Gilmore, the former governor of Virginia, lays claim to pushing through legislation he hopes will make Virginia the "Internet capital of the world."

He's also taken a fairly knee-jerk position supporting rural broadband, but he has a twist. He's combined that with advocating a tax-free Internet, reasoning that multiple state and local taxes will put smaller service providers at a disadvantage because the taxes will come with burdensome regulatory requirements.