Thanks again to NECN on Twitter (@NECN & @rdsahl ) tonight we had the chance to follow up with Mike Capuano (@capuano4senate) on the topic of net neutrality. Like most of his answers tonight his response was short and to the point.
Q: How do you see yourself contributing to our technological future. For instance are you for net neutrality?
A: “I am in favor of net neutrality, absolutely in favor of net neutrality. I use the internet as much as anybody my age, not as much as young people, and I don’t want to be interfered with at all.”
This was in stark contrast to Alan Khazei’s (@AlanKhazei) impassioned response to the same question earlier this month:
“The internet is an extraordinary invention that can empower people, make our democracy work better, share information, and facilitate small business entrepreneurs. We have to have net neutrality, we should not let big companies be able to dominate the internet and control it.”
We’re glad we had a chance to ask this question, it was meant to gauge the candidates aptitude of the online/technology space. While Mr. Capuano’s response is in line with the status quo we’re still not sure which side of the debate he would fall based on his answer alone, especially if a large number of companies made the case that net neutrality stifles their ability to innovate.
It would be foolish to believe that the next Senator from Massachusetts won’t have a say in how the internet develops our world in the 21st century. A lot of changes in this space are on the horizon, and we need informed champions of technology in every area of government. Failing to do so would be a detriment to the American people.