Hillary Clinton and Net Neutrality: Being pro-business doesn’t mean hanging consumers out to dry

[Commentary] Monthly prices for high-speed broadband are far higher on average in some major American cities than in Toronto, London, and Tokyo. In part, that’s because most of our communities are subject to local monopolies for service. Three-quarters of US households have at most one option for purchasing the Internet service families now depend on for shopping, streaming, and doing homework. When alternatives do emerge, however, as they have in places like Kansas City (MO), prices go down and speeds go up. As president, I will take on this fight.

First, I will take steps to stop corporate concentration in any industry where it’s unfairly limiting competition. Closing loopholes and protecting other standards of free and fair competition -- like enforcing strong net neutrality rules and preempting state laws that unfairly protect incumbent businesses -- will keep more money in consumers’ wallets, enable startups to challenge the status quo, and allow small businesses to thrive.

[Hillary Clinton is the former Secretary of State, and is currently seeking the 2016 Democratic nomination for President]