Clinton backs net neutrality; Trump’s stand is unclear

WASHINGTON — When the Federal Communications Commission voted to approve net neutrality rules last year, many people saw it as a done deal. Supporters cheered the decision as a victory for the free and open internet, where the deep pockets of big companies couldn’t buy faster web speeds over struggling startups.

Since then, the issue has largely faded from the spotlight and has rarely come up on the presidential campaign trail. But internet policy experts say the FCC decision was far from the end of the story.

Net neutrality rules, also known as “open internet,” prohibit internet service providers from favoring certain high-traffic websites, such as Netflix and Amazon, by giving them greater bandwidth at the expense of smaller start-up companies. Advocates argue it ensures an even playing field.

Internet companies have vowed to continue the fight against the regulation

Hillary Clinton would continue President Obama’s internet policy.

Her campaign site says she “strongly supports the FCC decision under the Obama administration to adopt strong network neutrality rules.”

Donald Trump’s position is unclear, but it’s a reasonable assumption he will line up with his party’s opposition to net neutrality, which is seen as needless government regulation.

In fact, the only public acknowledgment of the issue from Trump is a 2014 tweet.

“Obama’s attack on the internet is another top down power grab. Net neutrality is the Fairness Doctrine. Will target the conservative media,” he tweeted. He was referring to the 1940s law requiring newscasters to report the news in a balanced manner, which was repealed in 1987. It’s unclear what it has to do with net neutrality.