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The contest for the democratic nomination is still way too close to call, but there are serious differences between the candidate's platforms. This article looks at the candidate's views on issues of technology, including net neutrality, data retention, new energy sources, and more.


Barack Obama
Obama's platform equates broadband access to telephone and electrical service; that it should be available to all Americans, "regardless of economic status."[1] His goals are to redefine broadband from is current designation of 200kbps (25KB/s), foster affordable access even in rural areas, generate more efficient use of wireless technology, and to bring broadband access to schools and libraries throughout America.

Hillary Clinton
Clinton bases her broadband strategy on government incentives for carriers to build and service broadband infrastructure in areas currently out-of-reach of high-speed Internet access. She also supports state and local funding of broadband initiatives. [3]


Data retention is the practice of maintaining traffic logs by Internet Service Providers and websites. Some government officials want to require that these logs be retained for a period of time, to assist law enforcement.

Barack Obama
When asked if he supported data retention legislation, his answer was as clear and simple as it gets: "No." [8]

Hillary Clinton
Clinton's position on mandated data retention is that, in order to ensure "..the protection of our children..we must strike a balance between...data retention and activity tracking...and legitimate law enforcement efforts to seek out online predators to who are using the Internet to prey on victims." [7]


Both Candidates
Both candidates support passing Network Neutrality legislation. Both were original co-sponsors of the "Internet Freedom Preservation Act" or the "Dorgan Snowe bill." [2]


Barack Obama
Obama's platform calls for federal funding to encourage university students to pursue degrees in the STEM majors. He calls for investments in education to ascertain the best curriculum in science and technology, and establishment of a "Teaching Service Scholarship" which would grant scholarships for graduate students studying in the STEM fields in return for their teaching in public schools for a number of years. [4]

Hillary Clinton
Clinton's platform page notes the discrepancy of employment between gender and race in the fields of technology in science. She is calling for an affirmative-action type program for federal funding to consider diversity when granting research and education funds. Her platform also calls for federal incentives for college programs that encourage under-represented groups to study the STEM fields. [3]


Barack Obama
Senator Obama's platform sets long-term goals to solve our energy crisis, while addresses the problems of climate change. His plan calls for $150 billion over ten years to develop a biofuels infrastructure, plug-in hybrid vehicles, and "clean coal" power plants.

Obama's long-term vision includes a reduction in carbon emissions of 80% from 1990-levels by 2050. His "Renewable Portfolio Standard" or RPS would require renewable energy resources to comprise one-quarter of the total United States energy consumption by 2025, and a doubling of fuel efficiency standards over a period of 18 years.

Hillary Clinton
Senator Clinton has proposed a 50 billion dollar "Strategic Energy Fund" to develop new energy technology. This fund would include tax credits to install ethanol pumps in gas stations and for homeowners to make their homes more energy-efficient. The fund would be paid for in part by the major oil companies, and focus on research into new alternative energy solutions. This fund would make up just a part of her ten-year, $150 billion dollar plan to develop new energy resources.

Among Clinton's long-term goals is a reduction of electrical energy consumption nation-wide of 20% by 2020, and an increase in fuel efficiency to 55 miles per gallon by the year 2030. She aims to cut greenhouse gas production to 80% of 1990-levels by 2050 (the same goal as Obama), and to cut oil imports by two-thirds by the year 2030.


Both Candidates
The candidates are both opposed to Real ID in its current form, but only because of the mandates it places upon state governments. Neither appears to be concerned with the threat it poses to civil liberties and individual privacy. [7] [8]


Barack Obama
Obama supports using technology to promote open government and citizen participation. He introduced the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act in 2006, which created the USAspending.gov website and requires complete disclosure of all agencies receiving federal funds. [5]

Hillary Clinton
Hillary Clinton is concerned with the increasing amount of interference the government has had in scientific research. Consequently, her platform calls for increased autonomy for agencies producing scientific publications, as well as an increased roll of science advisors to the President and inside the White House. [6]


Sources
[1] http://www.barackobama.com/issues/technology/
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_neutrality_in_the_United_States
[3] http://www.hillaryclinton.com/feature/innovation/
[4] http://election2008.aaas.org/comparisons/obama.shtml
[5] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Funding_Accountability_and_Transparency_Act_of_2006
[6] http://election2008.aaas.org/comparisons/clinton.shtml
[7] http://www.news.com/Technology-Voters-Guide-Hillary-Clinton---page-2/2100-1028_3-6224039-2.html?tag=st.next
[8] http://www.news.com/Technology-Voters-Guide-Barack-Obama---page-2/2100-1028_3-6224109-2.html?tag=st.next