Topics in the News: Net Neutrality
John McCain on Technology
: May 3, 2007
Special interest influence corruptly took HDTV frequencies
Q: You said you wouldn't put up with having police and fire radios on different frequencies?A: I was talking about the fact that the special interests have kept the spectrum, which the American people are supposed to have and our first responders are
supposed to have--we gave the broadcasters high definition television. In return, they were supposed to give a spectrum that was going to be reserved for the first responders. Again, the special interest influence prevailed over the public's interest.
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Source: 2007 GOP primary debate, at Reagan library, hosted by MSNBC
John McCain on Technology
: Mar 14, 2007
Provide unused spectrum to emergency officials
Some of us in Congress have tried for several years to provide unused spectrum to police, firefighters and other emergency officials without, I am sorry to report, success. With all the technological advances of recent years, why is it that those on whom
we depend when disasters strike are still unable to communicate with each other during an emergency, while we are able to watch the crisis unfold on our televisions? It's because public officials have yet to get serious about developing and funding a
safety communications system for all local, state and federal first responders. Government needs to develop a comprehensive, interoperable emergency communications plan and set equipment standards, fund emergency and interoperable communications
equipment, and provide the radio spectrum that will allow communicating over long distances using the same frequencies and equipment. We should have done it years ago. We must do it now before disaster, man made or natural, strikes us again.
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Source: 2007 IAFF Presidential Forum in Washington DC
Sam Brownback on Technology
: Feb 2, 2007
Network neutrality represents the heavy hand of regulation
The Club for Growth supports more sensible government regulation, and less government regulation overall, as a critical step toward increasing freedom and growth in the marketplace. Sen. Brownback has often demonstrated his respect for the
self-regulation of the marketplace and his general aversion to burdensome regulatory measures. These votes include:- Voted against legislation that would have prohibited media conglomerates from owning more television stations (Roll
Call #348, 09/16/03)
- Circulated a letter with Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) opposing legislation to regulate broadband companies, writing, "Opposing the heavy hand of regulation that network neutrality represents is critical if we are to maintain the
Internet as an open, evolving, and market-based tool" (Brownback press release, 05/17/06)
- He has also supported the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 (Brownback press release, 10/27/03).
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Source: Club for Growth, "Second Presidential White Paper"
John McCain on Technology
: Dec 16, 1999
Free TV & radio to candidates as a public interest
Q: Are you in favor of free and equal TV time for all candidates?A: The TV and radio stations use the public’s assets, the spectrum, in order to function. When they get a license to use that, they sign a piece of paper that says they will act in the
“public interest.” It seems to me that the public interest is clearly that they should help with the political process. These folks are good at enticing people to watch their stations. I think they could do a good job helping candidates attract viewers.
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Source: Joint interview with Bradley & McCain