How you compare
Barack Obama shares a 88% similarity with your beliefs on Internet and Media
I support rules limiting the number of media outlets (newspapers, TV or radio stations, etc.) a single corporation can own within individual media markets.
\"I\'m committed to having the FCC review what our current policies are in terms of media diversification. And part of what I want to do is to expand the diversity of voices in media, or have policies that encourage that, taking into account that the nature of our media itself is changing so rapidly that the most important thing that we can probably do is to preserve the diversity that\'s emerging through the internet. The internet is not yet the major source of news for people, but it\'s increasingly becoming the major source of news.... There is still a multiplicity of voices on the internet, so the question is how do we preserve that as bigger companies want to start getting into that space.\"
"Minority owned and operated newspapers and radio stations play a critical role in the African American and Latino communities and bring minority issues to the forefront of our national discussion. However, the [Federal Communications Commission] has failed to further the goals of diversity in the media and promote localism, and as a result, it is in no position to justify allowing for increased consolidation of the market. Moreover, 30 days of public review of a specific proposed change is insufficient to assess the effect that change would have on the media marketplace or the rationale on which any such proposal is based.... It is time to put together an independent panel, as Commissioner Adelstein has recommended, to issue a specific proposal for furthering the goal of diversity in media ownership. I object to the agency moving forward to allow greater consolidation in the media market without first fully understanding how that would limit opportunities for minority, small business, and women owned firms."
Co-sponsored the Media Ownership Act of 2007 (S. 2332) to promote transparency in the adoption of new media ownership rules by the Federal Communications Commission, and to establish an independent panel to make recommendations on how to increase the representation of women and minorities in broadcast media ownership.
From Obama's official campaign website: "Barack Obama believes that the nation’s rules ensuring diversity of media ownership are critical to the public interest. Unfortunately, over the past several years, the Federal Communications Commission has promoted the concept of consolidation over diversity. As president, he will encourage diversity in the ownership of broadcast media, promote the development of new media outlets for expression of diverse viewpoints, and clarify the public interest obligations of broadcasters who occupy the nation’s spectrum."
I support the principle of equal access to internet bandwidth known as “network neutrality.”
“I am a strong supporter of net neutrality.... Facebook, MySpace, Google, might not have been started if you had not had a level playing field for whoever has 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 that is the principle that my FCC commissioners are applying as we move forward.”
“I will take a backseat to no one in my commitment to network neutrality. The Internet is the most open network in history. We have to keep it that way. I will 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. Accordingly, network providers should not be allowed to charge fees to privilege the content or applications of some web sites and Internet applications over others.”
Co-sponsored the Internet Freedom Preservation Act of 2007 (S. 215) to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to ensure network neutrality.
“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 back seat 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 use. The internet is perhaps the most open network in history, and we have to keep it that way.”