Republican Party on Technology

	Republican Party on Technology Party Platform

Competitive & innovative nternet access instead of FCC rules

Case Study: The FCCs Treatment of the Internet as a Utility

Despite the success of the largely unregulated Internet, the FCC has long sought to have more regulatory control over it. These efforts culminated in the FCC's February 2015 order applying the Communications Act of 1934--law written for the monopoly telegraph era--to assert regulatory control over Internet access in the name of an "open Internet." This would effectively prohibit "free" data.

Taskforce Solution: In the competitive market for Internet access service, particularly the wireless broadband market, participants routinely compete for customers not only on price, but on innovative service plans. This flexibility allowed the early wireless industry to innovate in service offerings, eliminating the concept of long-distance service, plans that included "buckets of minutes", and subsidizing customer equipment through contracts. The country cannot afford to cast the FCC's dark shadow of the question of how to innovate.

Source: A Better Way: Our Vision for the Economy (GOP Blueprint) , Jun 14, 2016

Infrastructure via civil engineering, not social engineering

America's infrastructure networks are critical for economic growth, international competitiveness, and national security. Infrastructure programs have traditionally been non-partisan; everyone recognized that we all need clean water and safe roads & ports. The current Administration has changed that, replacing civil engineering with social engineering as it pursues an exclusively urban vision of dense housing and government transit. In the vaunted stimulus package, less than six percent of the funds went to transportation, with most of that to cosmetic "shovel-ready" projects rather than fundamental structural improvements.

Engineering surveys report crumbling drinking water systems, aging dams, and overwhelmed wastewater infrastructure. Investment in these areas, as well as with levees and inland waterways, can renew communities, attract businesses, and create jobs. Most importantly, it can assure the health and safety of the American people.

Source: 2012 Republican Party Platform , Aug 27, 2012

Invest in cutting-edge cybersecurity technologies

The government and private sector must work together to address the cyberthreats posed to the United States, help the free flow of information between network managers, and encourage innovation and investment in cybersecurity. The government must do a better job of protecting its own systems, which contain some of the most sensitive data and control some of our most important facilities. As such, we encourage an immediate update of the law to improve the security of government information systems. Additionally, we must invest in continuing research to develop cutting-edge cybersecurity technologies to protect the U.S. However, we acknowledge that the most effective way of combating potential cybersecurity threats is sharing cyberthreat information between the government and industry, as well as protecting the free flow of information within the private sector. Source: 2012 Republican Party Platform , Aug 27, 2012

Support do-not-call and do-not-email lists

President Bush created the National Do Not Call Registry, a tool that will help ensure that telemarketers respect the privacy of our nation’s citizens. It will allow people to limit most unwanted telemarketing calls by registering their home or cell phone numbers. The service comes at no expense to the taxpayers. Unauthorized and unwelcome email, commonly known as spam, interferes with efficient and effective business and family communications. We support efforts to address this growing problem. Source: 2004 Republican Party Platform, p. 83 , Sep 1, 2004

Encourage technology with funds for R & D, tax reform

Maintain an educated work force.
Speed up the research that drive progress, along the lines of tax reforms, National Institute of Health funding, and a $20 billion increase in the research budget of the Defense Department.
Protect the technology industry from pirates.
Restrain the hand of government so that it cannot smother the growth of worldwide commerce and communication through the Internet.

Source: Republican Platform adopted at GOP National Convention , Aug 12, 2000

School, libraries should ban porn from their computers

We endorse legislation pending to require schools and libraries to secure their computers against on-line porn and predators if they accept federal subsides to connect to the Internet. This is not a question of free speech. Kids in a public library should not be victims of filth, and porn addicts should not use library facilities for their addiction. Source: Republican Platform adopted at GOP National Convention , Aug 12, 2000

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Page last updated: May 05, 2021