President-elect Barack Obama and the Internet
Part of Barack Obama’s success in being elected the next President of the U.S. is due to his insightful use of the Internet to raise campaign funds. His campaign’s use of the Internet has been nothing short of remarkable. But that isn’t the sum of his knowledge or interest by any means.
One of the positions that he will likely be filling as President is the next FCC chairman and he has a good assortment of very able advisors who have worked for the FCC and the telecom industry to choose from.
Obama is obviously pro-Internet and favors giving government subsidies to Internet Service Providers who are willing to build networks in hard to reach locations. The government currently subsidizes phone companies who provide telephone service to such areas, but not internet connectivity. That would likely change with Obama.
Obama also favors more Internet regulations guaranteeing open access and net neutrality. When he nominates a candidate for the FCC Commissioner (who must be confirmed by the Senate) and appoints others to FCC positions, he can instruct them to focus on these issues and push forward new regulations.
Telecom and media mergers and acquisitions will likely come under closer scrutiny as Obama wants to promote small businesses and keep the telecom markets open to them.
Whether Obama’s positions will decrease innovation or encourage it is open to debate. Companies like AT&T, Verizon, and Comcast are likely to oppose Obama’s stand, while companies like Google, who support net neutrality, claim that openness regulations are essential for tapping the Internet’s full potential.
With so many issues facing the President-elect, Internet regulation may be placed on the back burner. On the other hand, with a few simple directives, he can push for immediate studies and implement change very quickly. But in any case, 2009 is likely to be a very active year for Internet issues in the U.S.
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