Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has laid out plans to connect 100% of American homes to broadband networks by 2020 as part of an ambitious tech platform that also aims to accelerate fifth-generation (5G) wireless deployment and development of the Internet of Things (IoT) through the identification of “underutilized” spectrum bands.
Highlights of the Clinton tech platform released on Tuesday include (1) establishment of a $25 billion “Infrastructure Bank” that will fund “a new competitive grant program to give cities, regions and states incentives to create a ‘model digital community,’” (2) public investments in “civic” IoT through federal research funding of “test-bedding, field trials and other public-private endeavors,” and (3) policies to ensure the free flow of data across borders. Clinton also affirmed her support for FCC rules that prescribe a Title II regulatory track for broadband network services and for current FCC policies on net neutrality, stressing that the government “has an obligation to protect the open Internet.” Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has yet to announce his platform on tech issues.
