Internet Policy
An open and world-class Internet infrastructure, like good transportation and good schools, is critical to our region’s economic vitality and to our nation’s ability to compete globally.
Over the past two decades, the Internet has proven to be the source of countless innovations that directly benefit us and our economy every day. To ensure continued innovation, and to preserve its democratic nature, the Internet must remain neutral and open. We can bridge the Digital Divide with high-speed Internet access that is affordable for everyone in our district, and we can exploit the existing network infrastructure in our city centers to encourage telecommuting that could take cars off our congested highways.
Encouraging Innovation and Preserving Internet Neutrality
A decade ago, the United States was one of the world’s Internet leaders, but the policies of George Bush and Chris Shays have slowed the Internet’s growth. In our district today, citizens have an insufficient choice of Internet providers, and our Internet connections are slower and more expensive than cutting-edge technologies currently provided in other U.S. communities. In Congress, Jim Himes will work to ensure that the Internet’s infrastructure is constantly upgraded to remain worldclass, and he will work to create a strong FCC that leads the industry it is supposed to regulate and holds Internet providers to world-class standards.
Jim will also stand up to the big telephone and cable companies, currently backed by George Bush and Chris Shays, who oppose Internet Neutrality. The Internet has succeeded precisely because it carries all kinds of data over one unified network without discrimination. Jim firmly believes that the Internet will only continue to spur innovation if it remains neutral and open.
Reducing the Digital Divide
High-speed Internet access is crucial to fully participating and competing in the 21st century. Jim will work to ensure that everyone in Connecticut, regardless of city or neighborhood, has access to affordable high-speed Internet. Extending world-class Internet infrastructure throughout our district will make Connecticut’s economy stronger, our citizens smarter, our workforce more competitive, our roads less congested, and our politics more open and more responsive.
