Who will win in the Democratic-Republican broadband race?

What’s new

The idea of Made in America is to combine reindustrialization, national security, revitalizing neglected places, improving the well-being of blue-collar workers and reducing carbon emissions.

Who will win in the Democratic-Republican broadband race? — Made in America 2023 Summit Illustration by Em McPhie

WASHINGTON, July 10, 2024 – Broadband Internet access is one of the few areas of public life where NO have been overtaken by partisan competition between Democrats and Republicans. And even with broadband, in Washington, some implementation issues fall into the jaws of partisanship.

The tension of this election year is increasingly palpable. Now, Washington politicians are preparing for national conventions: the GOP in Milwaukee next week, the Democrats in Chicago in mid-August. What are the broadband issues where each party sees an advantage?

Net Neutrality and Privacy

Let’s get the two issues that seem attractive off the table: net neutrality and privacy. For a long time, I’ve thought that these two issues should be considered together by Congress. But Capitol Hill hasn’t read the memo yet.

Net neutrality—the principle that broadband providers cannot favor some means of internet communication over others—is hopelessly and relentlessly partisan. Democrats favor regulation in law, Republicans do not. If there is no obvious role for Congress in legislating on the issue, the only chance of avoiding constant change of heart is the role that the Supreme Court’s decision in Loper Bright might play in the deliberations. From an electoral perspective, who has the upper hand? Flip a coin.

Privacy is, in some ways, its exact opposite.

Twenty years ago, it was privacy, not net neutrality, that was controversial. But today, Republicans and Democrats seem to agree that it’s time for Congress to pass comprehensive privacy legislation. Good luck. But if you ever get around to it, could you include some simple, ground rules about not blocking, throttling, or favoring content that’s tied to your ISP?

Again, from an election standpoint, there is no contest.

Crypto

With the Republican National Convention (RNC) approaching next week, members have already begun working on drafting their policy platforms.

In this article, the Republican Party highlights what may be its biggest technological advantage over the Democrats: its interest in cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology.

From the Broadband Breakfast report on this topic:

The Republican Party platform has vowed to reverse the Biden administration’s “illegal and un-American” crackdown on cryptocurrencies, though it did not specify which policies would be reversed.

The GOP has said it will work to ensure that the public can store digital assets themselves, mine Bitcoin, and conduct transactions without government oversight. The platform has also opposed the creation of a central bank for the digital currency.

In addition, Broadband Breakfast Live Online will take on the topic: Crypto and Republicans, on Wednesday, July 17:

Don’t miss the exclusive report on this topic for Broadband Breakfast Club members:

For good measure, the GOP agenda also seeks to gain traction—presumably among Silicon Valley venture capitalists—against AI regulation. It seeks to overturn the 2023 bill. Implementing Regulation seeking to prohibit algorithmic discrimination.

If you are a pro-cryptocurrency and/or pro-AI voter, it is hard not to notice the Republican Party’s advantage.

Advanced Energy

However, from the perspective of preparing for the future energy and environmental challenges that our country (and the world) faces, it is hard not to see the need to continue to develop green and non-fossil energy. I am neither an expert nor an advocate of advanced energy. However, there is no denying that momentum has shifted, in a positive way, toward the need to develop cleaner energy.

For example, last year Broadband Breakfast hosted a “Made in America Summit” that addressed three issues: broadband infrastructure, green energy, and domestic semiconductor manufacturing:

The most dramatic attempt to restructure the U.S. industrial base in decades, if not generations, the combination of the green energy provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act (August 2022), the semiconductor promotion provisions in the CHIPS and Science Act (July 2022), and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (November 2021) will collectively invest more than $2 trillion in federal funds in American manufacturing, infrastructure (including broadband), and advanced energy.

Call it the Biden administration’s Made in America initiative. The idea behind it, says the Economist, “is that with government action, America can reindustrialize itself, strengthen national security, revitalize left-behind places, cheer up blue-collar workers, and radically reduce carbon emissions, all at the same time.”

The Summit sessions explored the interpenetration of the following broader issues:

● (R)econstruction of energy and internet infrastructure
● Semiconductor Manufacturing and the US-China Technology Race
● Challenges of Reorienting the US Supply Chain
● Creating cleaner energy and strengthening green industry

The Made in America Summit videos and reports come from an election year in which the president Joe Biden legacy is online, more relevant than ever. Importantly, the intersection of these issues is not, in the case of broadband Internet access, a trivial matter. For the advanced energy voter, the Democrats have the upper hand.

Don’t miss “New Developments in Open Access Networks” on July 10th at 12:00 PM EST

Regardless of the election issues, you won’t want to miss the regular weekly Broadband Breakfast Live Online, which will take place on Wednesday, July 10 at 12:00 p.m. ET.

This applies to open access networks:

Open access networks are gaining popularity across the country. In addition to major players like AT&T (including its Gigapower joint venture with BlackRock) and T-Mobile, UTOPIA Fiber and other such networks continue to expand. More and more cities and regions are committing to open access. Under this model, multiple service providers share the same infrastructure, managed by a separate network operator. This promise is a cost-effective way to promote competition and innovation, as well as lower capital costs for some new entrants. But the complexities are real, and the obstacles exist. What new developments and insights are impacting open access networks?

See the lineup and register (free) to take part:

Panelists

Jeff Bankston, Vice President of Business Development, Underline
Isaac FinerChief Revenue Officer, COS Systems
Brian HollisterCEO and Co-Founder of Bonfire Infrastructure Group
Angie KronenbergPresident, INCOMPAS
Drew Clark (moderator), editor and publisher, Broadband Breakfast

If you are interested in this topic, do not miss the Digital Infrastructure Investment conference in Washington, DC, on September 19, 2024: “All-in” on Open Access.