Presidential candidates stake out tech positions

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES STAKE OUT TECH POSITIONS
[SOURCE: InfoWorld, AUTHOR: Grant Gross]
Technology policy hasn't played a major role in this year's U.S. presidential campaign, but the major candidates have staked out positions on issues such as net neutrality and skilled-worker visas. As in past presidential campaigns, candidates haven't viewed technology issues as ones that drive voters to the polls. 1) Sen Hillary Clinton (D-NY) has championed an " innovation agenda" as one of her top issues. That agenda includes several policies that many large tech companies have embraced. 2) Sen Barack Obama (D-IL) in November released an extensive tech policy paper, earning him praise from several tech groups. In the tech agenda, Obama called for net neutrality regulations for broadband carriers. 3) Former Governor Mitt Romney hasn't made many tech issues a central part of his campaign, but he has focused on U.S. competitiveness, a popular issue for many IT companies. He has expressed support for a permanent Internet tax ban, and he's said he supports free trade, a position echoed by many large tech vendors. Romney has also said he would support an increase in H-1B visas for high-skilled workers. 4) Sen John McCain (R-AZ) is a longtime member of the Senate Commerce Committee. As such, he can argue that he has the most tech policy experience of any of the remaining major-party candidates. In recent years, McCain has pushed for a nationwide voice and data network for public safety agencies. He was one of the Senate's leading voices in the effort to get U.S. television stations to give up part of their analog spectrum for use by police and fire departments. McCain has been noncommittal about net neutrality laws. He's said he'd be concerned if Internet users' access is blocked, but he's also suggested broadband carriers need to recoup their investments.
http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/02/05/Presidential-candidates-stake-...