Carly Fiorina says she's against any federal requirement that Internet providers treat all traffic equally. Fiorina opposes Net neutrality

California GOP Senate hopeful Carly Fiorina this week staked out her spot opposing tough Net neutrality rules.

The former Hewlett-Packard CEO and telecommunications industry executive told POLITICO she opposes any federal requirement that Internet providers treat all Web traffic equally.


"The principle sounds fantastic, but the principle is not the problem," Fiorina said in an interview at the Technology Policy Institute's conference in Aspen, Colo. "The problem is how companies and regulatory bodies are trying to translate that principle into policy, which would have a bad effect."

A spokeswoman later added that Fiorina "opposes Net neutrality and thinks government intervention and more regulation will not be helpful where the Internet is concerned."

Fiorina's position contrasts greatly with that of her opponent, Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer, who previously cosponsored legislation that would have set open Internet rules firmly in place.

In a statement, Boxer reaffirmed her support for Net neutrality. Her office later added that Boxer felt it was "premature to comment" on the Federal Communications Commission's efforts to mandate Net neutrality using its own rule-making process.

Fiorina criticized the agency for contemplating any legal avenue that would see Internet providers subject to some of the same rules that currently apply to phone services.

"The FCC is not an appropriate regulatory body for all of the advances going on for the Internet," she said.

Ultimately, the Net neutrality issue is unlikely to energize voters in a race pivoting primarily on economic issues, and Fiorina's comments most likely won't shake the ground in Silicon Valley, especially given her more than 20 years of experience at AT&T and Lucent Technologies.

Many of the Golden State's top tech companies have also long made up their minds, said Ralph Hellmann, senior vice president of the Information Technology Industry Council. He added many of those firms "are already close to Boxer."

But a Fiorina win could make it more difficult for Net neutrality advocates to get anything through the Senate next year, especially if the FCC finds itself mired in legal battles should it reclassify broadband as a telecommunications service.

Fiorina also offered a lengthy set of other tech agenda items she hopes to advance if elected, including a permanent extension of the R&D tax credit.

Republicans earlier this year blocked the Senate tax extenders bill, which included a temporary extension of the R&D credit. Boxer also supports the permanent extension.

Fiorina further emphasized the need for reform to guest visa laws, which she said would allow talent from abroad to stimulate innovation in California, and she proffered the importance of free trade agreements to economic development. She hammered Boxer for prioritizing neither issue, although the Boxer camp says that that the senator strongly supports increasing guest worker visas and incentivizing successful foreign students to work at high-tech companies in the United States.

"I would sum it up as her economic policy is higher taxes, more regulation and bigger government, and she has not been a friend to the technology industry or any other industry," Fiorina said.

Boxer's campaign noted the many industry bellwethers that have donated to the incumbent — including the CEOs of eBay and Oracle. Fiorina, on the other hand, boasts financial support from Intel CEO Paul Otellini and former Chairman Craig Barrett – though Intel’s PAC has donated to Boxer’s re-election committee this cycle, the Boxer campaign pointed out.

HP, for its part, is staying on the sidelines. A spokesperson told POLITICO the company was "leaving it to California voters to evaluate the candidates.” However, the company’s PAC has donated to Boxer, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission as of July, though the Fiorina camp does tout the support of a number of former and current top HP employees."

CORRECTION: This article was updated with clearer information about tech donor details and Boxer’s position on guest visas and to reflect that certain information came from Boxer's Senate office rather than from her campaign.

CORRECTION: Corrected by: Alex Byers @ 08/27/2010 07:05 PM Corrected by: Alicia Lozano @ 08/27/2010 01:22 PM Corrected by: Alicia Lozano @ 08/27/2010 1:21 PM CORRECTION: This article was updated to clarify Boxer’s position on visas and reflect the fact that her office, not her campaign, provided more information about net neutrality. Correction reflowed by Alex Byers @ 8/27/2010 07:44 PM, from Tim Grieve CORRECTION: This article was updated with clearer information about tech donor details and Boxer’s position on guest visas and to reflect that certain information came from Boxer's Senate office rather than from her campaign.