I need to say that John Edwards understands America’s communications policy needs. He’s been open for months about his thoughts regarding what he calls Open Media. Now Obama has picked up on Edwards’ message and has introduced his own policy guideline/pledge and tied an open media to innovation and the economy. I like the sound of what both say. I can only hope it isn’t just smoke and mirrors.

John Edwards for President-One America, Many Voices: Open Media For The 21st Century
“The basis of a strong democracy is a diverse and dynamic media. It’s time to take away the corporate media bullhorn and let America’s many voices be heard.” â?? John Edwards

• Fighting Media Concentration
• Restoring the Public Interest to the Public Airwaves
• Building a Universal, Affordable Internet
• Keeping an Open Internet
• Tuning in Thousands of Communities with Low Power Radio

Barack Obama ’08 Blog: Obama rolls out innovation agenda
â??I will take a backseat to no one in my commitment to network neutrality. Because once providers start to privilege some applications or web sites over others, then the smaller voices get squeezed out, and we all lose. The Internet is perhaps the most open network in history. We have to keep it that way.â? – Barack Obama

• Ensure the Full and Free Exchange of Information through an Open Internet and Diverse
  Media Outlets
  • Protect the Openness of the Internet
  • Encourage Diversity in Media Ownership
  • Protect Our Children While Preserving the First Amendment
  • Safeguard our Right to Privacy
• Create a Transparent and Connected Democracy
  • Open Up Government to its Citizens
  • Bring Government into the 21st Century
• Deploy a Modern Communications Infrastructure
  • Deploy Next-Generation Broadband
• Employ Technology and Innovation to Solve Our Nationâ??s Most Pressing Problems
  • Lower Health Care Costs by Investing in Electronic Information Technology Systems
  • Invest in Climate-Friendly Energy Development and Deployment
  • Upgrade Education to Meet the Needs of the 21st Century
  • Create New Jobs
  • Modernize Public Safety Networks
• Improve Americaâ??s Competitiveness
  • Invest in the Sciences
  • Make the R&D Tax Credit Permanent
  • Reform Immigration
  • Promote American Businesses Abroad
  • Ensure Competitive Markets
  • Protect American Intellectual Property Abroad
  • Protect Intellectual Property at Home
  • Reform the Patent System

I haven’t seen any similar commitments from the Republican candidates.