One of the major hallmarks of the contemporary era of tech policy (1995-2006) is its bipartisanship. Whether it's been stock option expensing, encryption exports, digital copyrights, R&D funding, securities litigation reform, immigration policy, etc..., the tech industry has had strong allies from both sides of the aisle (and, conversely, both Rs and Ds who opposed the industry, too).
You can question whether this truism is no longer thanks to the hot issue of the day -- Net Neutrality. Consider the following vote breakdown from today's pro-Net Neutrality amendment offered by Ed Markey (D-Mass) in the House Energy & Commerce Committee.
Total vote: 23 yay - 34 nay
Dem vote: 22 - 5
Rep vote: 1- 29
Now, it doesn't matter if you love legislated Net Neutrality so much that you want to marry it or that you think it's a sure sign of the apocalypse. Or that, sure, Republicans are traditionally less apt to regulate and Democrats are more apt to take "pro-consumer" positions. Throw both the gut feelings and the pragmatism out the window and recognize that partisanship in tech policy sadly means less examination of issues on their sometimes complicated merits and more policymaking that often first considers what's best for Democrats or Republicans.
Let's hope that Net Neutrality is an anomaly and not the beginning of a trend.
Comments