Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush proposes to take back net neutrality, one of the most important policies of the Obama administration.
In a Sept. 22 entry on his official campaign website, the U.S. presidential aspirant says the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) net neutrality rules, which consider all Internet service providers as public utilities, forces them to comply with an outdated policy that suppresses innovation.
According to Bush, Obama's net neutrality rules do not enhance public welfare. Instead, they deliver advantages to one industry at the cost of another.
"Rather than enhancing consumer welfare, these rules prohibit one group of companies (ISPs) from charging another group of companies (content companies) the full cost for using their services," he argues.
Bush intends to ensure that ISPs such as AT&T, Verizon and Comcast are given the right to demand payment from web content providers who want to ensure their content are delivered to their audience.
The Republican bet also says that a number of small broadband businesses such as Wisper ISP and KWISP have declared that the FCC's net neutrality rules have pushed them to cut back on investments that go into expanding and upgrading their networks.
Bush first weighed in on the FCC's net neutrality ruling last March. "The idea of regulating access to the Internet with a 1934 law is one of the craziest ideas I've ever heard," he stated.
Meanwhile, telecom policy analysts have anticipated that a Republican president might try to abolish net neutrality.
Under a Republican administration, the political balance at the FCC would tip from a 3-2 majority in favor of liberals to a 3-2 majority in favor of conservatives. The shift would allow Republicans to roll back the actions of Obama-appointed FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler.
Bush was the governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007. Son and brother to two former presidents, Bush was placed fifth among Republicans in a CNN Poll recently released. He is behind Carly Fiorina, Donald Trump, Marco Rubio and Ben Carson, who all have previously criticized the net neutrality rules.
The FCC's net neutrality rules are supported by Democrats, including leading presidential aspirant Hillary Clinton.
