Obama vs. McCain: Where Would the Election Be without Net Neutrality? -- Media & Technology Voter Guide

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This election, voters have a clear choice from the two major presidential candidates on whether the Internet should remain free and available to all, whether huge corporations should be allowed to own even greater concentrations of outlets, the extent to which you have a right to privacy online, and whether government will use technological developments readily available to make government more open.

Although media issues are not part of the daily election debate between John McCain and Barack Obama, the candidates have detailed backgrounds and positions on everything from media consolidation to privacy in the Internet age. As Amanda Terkel writes for Salon, as chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, McCain has had the chance to "choose whether to be pro-competition or pro-big business. In most instances, he chose the latter route, by opposing increased Internet access for schools and libraries, backing large mergers to benefit the telecom industry and supporting a virtual system of haves and have-nots." There are some notable exceptions for McCain, however: McCain did vote against the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which required the FCC to regularly review its media ownership rules, and he has supported a series of broadband initiatives. But largely, McCain believes, like many conservatives, in the "magic of the marketplace," not the government, to cure social ills. The Obama philosophy on media and tech issues is clearly that he believes in the need for serious government oversight, from the establishment of a chief technological officer in the White House to protecting control of the Internet from the advance of corporate greed.

1. NET NEUTRALITY: KEEPING THE INTERNET OPEN

Telecoms and tech corporations have stealthily positioned themselves to seize control of the Internet from the public primarily through deceptive multimillion-dollar lobbying and PR campaigns that attempt to reshape public understanding of how the Internet works, who owns it, and what role the private sector plays in keeping it open.

• Solution: In order to ensure that broadband networks are open to all producers and consumers of Internet content on fair and equal terms, Washington needs a series of legal safeguards to protect from market encroachment on public space.
• Obama's position: From Obama's campaign Web site: "Barack Obama strongly supports the principle of network neutrality to preserve the benefits of open competition on the Internet."
• McCain's position: From McCain's technology platform: "John McCain does not believe in prescriptive regulation like 'net-neutrality,' but rather he believes that an open marketplace with a variety of consumer choices is the best deterrent against unfair practices." This position, Free Press argues, would allow for "blocking, speeding up or slowing down Web content based on its source, ownership or destination." "When you control the pipe, you should be able to get profit from your investment," McCain told All Things Digital writer Kara Swisher.
• Learn more: CommonCause.org, ThinkProgress.org, SaveTheInternet.com, Obama's Technology Plan, McCain's Plan

2. BROADBAND

America lags badly behind other nations in terms of broadband penetration, affordability, community access and number of Internet providers from which people have to choose. Although this issue has been addressed in a series of laws passed in Washington this decade, it still lacks proper regulation.

• Solution: From the Center for Digital Democracy: "Many municipalities have found it efficient to build publicly owned broadband networks to serve their communities. In many cases, these networks started out as control systems for local power grids, but have repurposed their excess bandwidth to offer cable television and high-speed Internet service to the public. Such municipal networks can provide much-needed competition for the major telephone and cable companies that have become infamous for their poor customer service and failure to upgrade their technology."
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