Democratic Delegates Vow to Fight Republicans on Net Neutrality in Party Platform

Democratic delegates approved the party's platform July 25 and it committed to free Wi-Fi for anchor institutions and broadband for every household. It was being hailed as the most progressive platform in history, and clearly progress on broadband buildouts was high on the list. "High speed Internet connectivity is not a luxury; it is a necessity for 21st century economic success, social mobility, education, health care, and public safety," the platform said. "Despite considerable progress and private investment in the last eight years to close the digital divide, there is more work to do." That includes "finishing the job of connecting every household in America to high speed broadband, increase Internet adoption, and help hook up anchor institutions so they can offer free Wi-Fi to the public."

The platform was all in on network neutrality. "Democrats support a free and open Internet at home and abroad," the platform asserted, "and will oppose any effort by Republicans to roll back the historic net neutrality rules that the Federal Communications Commission enacted [in 2015]."