Clinton Favors 'Enforcing Strong Net Neutrality Rules'

“Closing these loopholes and protecting other standards of free and fair competition -- like enforcing strong net neutrality rules and preempting state laws that unfairly protect incumbent businesses -- will keep more money in consumers’ wallets, enable startups to challenge the status quo, and allow small businesses to thrive,” Clinton said in her column. Clinton indicated backing for the FCC’s direction on net neutrality, including reclassification of broadband as a Communications Act Title II service, earlier this year. Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Bill Nelson, D-Fla., has told us he doesn’t see the administration position shifting under a Clinton presidency (see 1504160034), and open Internet advocate Marvin Ammori has also expressed his confidence in Clinton on the issue (see 1507210050). No Republicans running for president back the FCC net neutrality order, and some have prioritized dismantling it. Clinton also intends to “prevent concentration in the first place by beefing up the antitrust enforcement arms of the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission,” she added. “I will direct more resources to hire aggressive regulators who will conduct in-depth industry research to better understand the link between market consolidation and stagnating incomes. Ultimately, this will foster a change in corporate culture that restores competition to the marketplace.”