Technology policy is not center stage in this year’s presidential campaign, much as the competitive community might wish otherwise. Each candidate is consumed with weightier subjects, namely the economy and Iraq. But that’s not to say technology isn’t on the minds of the nominees.
In fact, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., released his tech treatise almost a year ago, and the use of the Internet and text messaging has been fundamental in his crusade. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., meanwhile, published his long-awaited tech views on Aug. 14 even as he admitted to eschewing e-mail and not knowing how to surf the World Wide Web (see sidebar below). Still, he’s leaning on his status as a member and former chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, which oversees telecom and technology, to speak for him. That and his role in helping to create the BlackBerry — er, you know what I mean.
But while McCain may have had more involvement to date relative to telecom policy, it is Obama who’s expected to play a bigger role in ensuring there’s reasonable competition in the communications space.
Even so, communications executives and some associations fear that neither McCain nor Obama fully understands the importance of the battles looming on the technology horizon. Perhaps that shouldn’t come as a surprise, given the many intricacies and rapid changes on the communications front. The past four years alone have been consumed with megamergers, discontent with FCC leadership, warrantless wiretapping and budding fights over net neutrality.
And just how these and other communications issues play out will hinge heavily on who takes the White House.
What’s in the Cards
When it comes to just about anything, McCain “is more of a wild card,” than Obama, according to Craig Clausen, senior vice president and COO of New Paradigm Resources Group (NPRG), a Chicago-based research and consulting firm. For instance, McCain might be open-minded and pro-competition toward one industry, “but have a completely different perspective when it comes to telecom,” he said.
Here’s a snapshot of McCain's communications track record:
- He voted against the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
- He has supported à la carte cable programming.
- He opposed the E-Rate program that funds Internet access for schools and libraries.
- In 2003 and 2004, he backed then-FCC Chairman Michael Powell's quest to reform media ownership rules to allow consolidation, an issue so divisive the White House had to step in.
- Even though McCain expressed concern over recent Bell mergers, he never voted against one.
- And he has fought efforts to institute Internet-related taxes.
That said, Roger Entner, senior vice president for the communications practice at survey and research firm Nielsen IAG, believes it’s fair to conclude a McCain White House would apply a light touch to communications policy. Entner said this approach might also be termed “benign neglect.”
