Obama Backs Net Neutrality Mandate, Kennard Says
Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., supports a net neutrality law empowering the FCC to pursue discrimination complaints against network operators, Obama technology advisor and ex- FCC Chairman William Kennard told C-Span’s Communicators. Kennard termed recent FCC censure of Comcast for blocking file sharing traffic a “tentative” first step, but said agency jurisdiction is “murky” and could lead to lengthy legal appeals.
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“That’s the danger we face,” said Kennard. “Legislation would certainly clear that up.” Obama’s vice presidential pick, Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, has been less hawkish on the issue, records show. Biden did not co-sponsor S-215, a bill Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., introduced in January 2007 that would punish providers for blocking access to the Internet. Obama was among 10 co-sponsors, including former presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., doesn’t think a law is needed, Doug Holtz-Eakin, a senior McCain policy advisor, said in an interview. McCain is “interested in identifying abusive practices,” but until circumstances change believes the best policy is for the FCC to step in when there’s a problem, Holtz-Eakin said. But Obama thinks a legislative approach is “not that complicated” and is needed to protect end-users, Kennard said.
A bill could say Internet users should have access to whatever content is available, and that content providers should have access to those users, Kennard said. Providers should not be allowed to discriminate in favor of their own content, Kennard said: “It’s a simple principle and should be written into law.” That would give the public confidence that they have full access to the Internet.
Kennard took a swipe at McCain’s record on the universal service program schools and libraries fund, also known as E- Rate, saying that McCain sided with telecom carriers opposed to paying for the program. “I think he was doing their bidding,” Kennard said. Holtz-Eakin said McCain supports the fund, though he was critical of “big salaries” paid some recipients. Kennard acknowledged that the program is costly and not as efficient as it could be. But he said the answer is not McCain’s solution, “which is to throw out the program.” Many programs have “some modicum of fraud and abuse, but that is not a reason to throw out the program,” Kennard said.
McCain does not support junking the program, Holtz-Eakin said. Obama has not taken positions on any proposals to curb USF waste and more efficiently target subsidies, but believes such steps are needed, Kennard said. The candidate views USF as a potential font of support for broadband service, he said.
Obama opposes media consolidation, and signed on to a resolution Dorgan sponsored to nullify recent FCC rules. Biden also co-sponsored the resolution, which passed the Senate but has not advanced in the House. “Before we rush to approve more mergers, we need to understand what is the public interest goal,” Kennard said. “People will often focus on woes the industry is facing and say the answer is more consolidation. Consolidation should not be used as an elixir for the business woes of mass media,” he said. McCain did not sign the resolution.
Kennard, who chaired the FCC while McCain was chairing the Commerce Committee, had “philosophical differences” with McCain’s communications policy, he said.