Technology Voters' Guide: Chris Dodd

Sure, there have been the YouTube-ified debates, MySpace.com polls, record-setting fund-raising efforts, and the now-obligatory Google office visits.

But knowing where the candidates stand on high-tech topics like digital copyright, surveillance, and Internet taxes can be revealing, which is why we've put together this 2008 Technology Voters' Guide.

In late November, we sent questionnaires to the top candidates--measured by funds raised and poll standings--from each major party. We asked each the same 10 questions.

Other candidates' responses:
Clinton, McCain, Edwards, Paul,
Obama

.

Not all candidates chose to respond: Republicans Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Rudy Giuliani, and Fred Thompson rebuffed our requests, as did Democrats Joe Biden and Bill Richardson. In all such cases, we made repeated efforts to try to convince them to change their minds.

Sen. Chris Dodd, who dropped out of the race late Thursday after a poor showing at the Iowa caucuses, had been one of the candidates who did respond to News.com's questions.

Read on for responses from Dodd, or check out CNET News.com's election coverage roundup, featuring other Technology Voters' Guide candidate reports.

Q: Politicians have been talking for years about the need for high-speed Internet access. Should this be accomplished primarily through deregulation and market forces, or should the federal government give out grants or subsidies, or enact new laws?
Chris Dodd: It is time that we approach the Internet the same way we approach water, electricity, and highways--as critical infrastructure that our citizens require to participate fully in American society.

The power of the Internet creates the ability for individuals to reach out to not just their community, but the world. Unfortunately, some Americans are silenced by the lack of access to this technology. Many communities have taken action to meet the public's demand by creating city- or town-wide Wi-Fi public networks.

America's leadership must commit to ensuring that every American has access to broadband, whether at home or in public libraries, or through our local schools, so as to enrich their lives, further their education, and expose them to and further business opportunities.

As president, I would use revenue gained from the spectrum auction to expand the development of new technology and ensure affordable high-speed wireless Internet access nationwide, ensuring the Internet as a reliable public good that will continue to transform our daily lives.

Congress has considered Net neutrality legislation, but it never became law. Do you still support the legislation that was re-introduced in 2007 (S 215), which gives the FCC the power to punish "discriminatory" conduct by broadband providers?
Dodd: Yes, I am currently a co-sponsor to S 215. I was also a co-sponsor to S 2917, the Internet Freedom Preservation Act, which was introduced last year. This bill encourages free and open access to digital content, supports the development of new technology, and ensures that Americans have uninhibited access to the Internet, regardless of which service they choose.

Telecommunications companies such as AT&T have been accused in court of opening their networks to the government in violation of federal privacy law. Do you support giving them retroactive immunity for any illicit cooperation with intelligence agencies or law enforcement, which was proposed by the Senate Intelligence Committee this fall (S 2248)?
Dodd: I firmly and publicly oppose granting retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies. I placed a "hold" on any FISA legislation that includes retroactive immunity in October. When the Intelligence Committee version of the bill was brought to the floor including retroactive immunity, I made my opposition to it clear.

By standing up to the Bush administration once and for all, and standing on principle to defend the rule of law, I was able to win a victory by getting the legislation pulled from consideration. It will come up next year, and I will do everything in my power, including filibuster, to stop retroactive immunity from becoming law.

The 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act's section restricting the "circumvention" of copy protection measures is supported by many copyright holders but has been criticized by some technologists as hindering innovation. Would you support changing the DMCA to permit Americans to make a single backup copy of a DVD, Blu-ray Disc DVD, HD DVD, or video game disc they have legally purchased?
Dodd: I support reasonable use of copyright material that does not endanger the copyright owner's rights. We should be able to strike a balance between allowing Americans fair use of material they purchase, while protecting copyright holders from piracy.

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