Barack Obama's Plan for an Open Internet

"Ensure the Full and Free Exchange of Information through an Open Internet [...]"

As seen on: http://www.barackobama.com/issues/technology/#open-internet

Protect the Openness of the Internet: A key reason the Internet has been such a success is because it is the most open network in history. It needs to stay that way. Barack Obama strongly supports the principle of network neutrality to preserve the benefits of open competition on the Internet. Users must be free to access content, to use applications, and to attach personal devices. They have a right to receive accurate and honest information about service plans. But these guarantees are not enough to prevent network providers from discriminating in ways that limit the freedom of expression on the Internet. Because most Americans only have a choice of only one or two broadband carriers, carriers are tempted to impose a toll charge on content and services, discriminating against websites that are unwilling to pay for equal treatment. This could create a two-tier Internet in which websites with the best relationships with network providers can get the fastest access to consumers, while all competing websites remain in a slower lane. Such a result would threaten innovation, the open tradition and architecture of the Internet, and competition among content and backbone providers. It would also threaten the equality of speech through which the Internet has begun to transform American political and cultural discourse. Barack Obama supports the basic principle that network providers should not be allowed to charge fees to privilege the content or applications of some web sites and Internet applications over others. This principle will ensure that the new competitors, especially small or non-profit speakers, have the same opportunity as incumbents to innovate on the Internet and to reach large audiences. Obama will protect the Internet’s traditional openness to innovation and creativity and ensure that it remains a platform for free speech and innovation that will benefit consumers and our democracy. [...]

Barack Obama discusses net neutrality on MTV

Q: "[...] Would you make it a priority in your first year of office to reinstate Net Neutrality as the law of the land, and would you pledge to only appoint FCC commissioners that support open Internet principles, like Net Neutrality?"

A: "The answer is 'Yes', I am a strong supporter of Net Neutrality. And in case folks weren't following, exactly, the question, I just want to make sure everybody is clear. Right now, if you get on the Internet, the speed with which and the quality of your downloads or your links are the same whether you're going to the CNN, or Time Warner site, or whether you're going to BarackObama.com. But what you [have] been seeing is some lobbying that says that the servers, and the various portals through which you're getting information over the Internet should be able to be gatekeepers, and to charge different rates to different websites and webcasts. So now, what you have is potentially you could download and get much better quality from the Fox News site, and you'd be getting rotten service from some mom & pop site. And that, I think, destroys one of the best things about the Internet, which is that there's this incredible equality there. And people, if you've got a good idea, you get a great website, [FaceBook, Myspace, Google], might not have been started if you had not had a level playing field for whoever's got the best idea. And I want to maintain that basic principle in how the Internet functions. And so, as President, I'm going to make sure that is the principle that my FCC commissioners are applying as we move forward."

Barack Obama: On Net Neutrality

"And as president, I intend to write with you the next chapter in the story of American innovation. That's part of the reason I'm running for President of the United States. To seize this moment we have to ensure free and full exchange of information, and that starts with an open Internet. I will take a backseat to no one in my commitment to Network Neutrality, because once providers start to privilege some applications or websites over others, then the smaller voices get squeezed out, and we all lose. The Internet is perhaps the most open network in history, and we have to keep it that way." -Barack Obama