The Impact of the Presidential Election on Networks

America is speeding towards an unusually high-stakes election. The winner in the clash of polar opposite views will oversee drastically different government policies. Here’s a look at what either a Republican or Democratic outcome is likely to mean in terms of tech directives affecting networks.

First, it’s important to acknowledge that tensions are likely to spill over after the election and potentially change the policies touted by either candidate in pre-election pledges. Public pressure, both for and against any given policy, would likely have some impact on the final version.  

Meanwhile, the unease across the nation is palpable and nearly universal, while fear and anger creep insidiously into several segments of the population. Those tensions are unlikely to dissipate entirely after the election. Indeed, they are expected to become further entrenched, no matter which candidate wins.

Come election day or sometime thereafter, one or the other of the top two candidates will be declared the victor. There’s been lots of ink, pixels, and TV and video streams dedicated to what either outcome means in terms of the most obvious social issues and abrasive policy contentions. But few have dug deep to see beyond these to other policy differences that can also impact America in important ways.

"Telecom infrastructure remains a crucial yet under-discussed policy issue, and Trump and Harris are proposing distinct approaches,” says Richard Brandon, Vice President of Strategy at RtBrick, a provider of multi-service edge routing software for telcos.

Let’s take a look at how networks are likely to be impacted by each candidate should they be the final winner in this election.

Overall Candidate Tech Positions

“In sum, I think we can expect divergent approaches to regulations, broadband funding, blockchain innovation, and digital assets based on recent policies and public statements made by each candidate,” says Dr. Tonya M. Evans, ESQ., professor of Law at Penn State Dickinson Law and Digital Money Expert at Penn State Dickinson Law.

As to the specific points made or eluded to in the candidates’ public statements and other research, Deltek’s key technology findings to apprise government contractors of the two candidates’ positions are as follows:

Kamala Harris:

Donald Trump:

What these positions will lead to in the way of policy actions remains to be seen. Even so, a recent EY report finds that the outcome of the US election will most impact the following areas of regulation: cybersecurity/data protections, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and user data and content oversight. The report found that 74% of tech leaders believe the results of the upcoming US election will have a major impact on the US tech sector’s ability to stay ahead of global competitors.

Overall Candidate Positions on Broadband, Networks

“All the presidential candidates have come up with encouraging policies regarding broadband access, but they can be implemented in different ways,” says Chris Dukich, the owner of a SaaS company that provides digital signage to screens called Display Now.

As Dukich alludes to, the devil is in the details, so here are a few of the key takeaways for each of the leading candidates.

Kamala Harris

Harris’s platform “emphasizes her Opportunity Economy approach, which seeks to address the digital divide and expand broadband infrastructure as a means of economic empowerment for marginalized communities. This mirrors previous Democratic-led initiatives like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which allocated $65 billion for broadband expansion under the Biden administration,” says Dr. Evans.

And how will that likely play out in terms of government funding?

“The future of this approach will probably be more government grants and public-private partnerships which will enable moving towards the direction of having high-speed internet access to all the communities within the country,” Dukich said.

Other industry players and watchers tend to agree.

“A Harris administration would continue investing in cost-efficient network expansion, extending Biden’s initiative of increasing broadband access and bringing digital equity to rural areas through programs like BEAD. Billions of dollars are already earmarked and distributed to states to support the development of next-generation telecom networks,” says Brandon.

As to the impact on regulations, Dukich expects Harris to continue Biden’s “push for more restraints over tech corporations with a strong emphasis on data privacy, rivalry, and consumer welfare.”

Merrill agrees and points to the FTC efforts currently underway as continuing under Harris.

“Future regulations in a Harris administration will be the same in support of net neutrality and increase oversight against ISPs,” Merrill adds.

But not everyone agrees with the assessment that Harris will follow in Biden’s footsteps.

“Harris has signaled a shift from the strict regulatory stance of the Biden administration toward a more innovation-friendly framework. However, her policies are likely to continue emphasizing net neutrality and consumer protections, requiring network managers and architects to adapt to stricter compliance and reporting standards, which could increase opportunities for firms involved in public contracts and broadband development,” says Evans.

Cloud infrastructure and distributed networking will also see significant policy impact.

Harris has “indicated a focus on cloud security and resilience, integrating support for cloud computing technologies within her broader economic agenda. By investing in distributed infrastructure projects that emphasize cybersecurity, Harris’s administration would likely allocate federal resources toward cloud modernization efforts and Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) models that benefit both public and private sectors. This could lead to new federal contracts and investment in secure, scalable cloud solutions for IT professionals and network managers,” says Evans.

In terms of cybersecurity, Dukich says that Harris “seems much more willing [than Trump] to continue working in collaboration with international agencies in developing standards and policies.”

Donald Trump

When it comes to broadband expansion and funding, “It’s likely, as it is said in Project 2025 and elsewhere, that a Trump administration will focus on limiting federal influence, since it has deregulation in mind and supports private deployment,” says Dukich.

“As a result, US innovation might get faster, however, there might be some backlash and concern about rural areas or low-income areas being left behind by the market that might not have sufficient incentives,” Dukich added.

But that’s not the only consequence to widespread deregulation that may arise.

“For network professionals, Trump’s approach could result in reduced compliance hurdles but might also lead to market concentration among large ISPs, challenging smaller providers and creating disparities in access and service quality,” says Evans.

Evans is basing the above assessment on Trump’s hard shift from denouncing cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology as scams to a position as the “pro-crypto candidate” who is now vowing to transform the U.S. into the "crypto capital of the planet." The Trump administration this time around “would likely adopt a deregulatory approach to broadband expansion, minimizing federal oversight to incentivize private sector investment. This strategy aligns with his previous tenure, where his administration prioritized deregulation to spur innovation, such as repealing net neutrality,” Evans says.

Ironically, deregulation will still necessitate some government oversight to keep vendors from running off the rails.

“A Trump administration could call on tax incentives and partnerships with the private sector to spur broadband infrastructure construction and would likely turn to market-based strategies more than direct government intervention. Recent analyses from venues such as the Pew Research Center indicate that public-private partnerships have had some mixed results, which under this approach would need to be monitored,” says Merrill.

But Trump seems focused on a steady path of deregulation driven in part by his focus on digital assets.

“Trump’s promises to fire SEC Chair Gary Gensler and dismantle current regulatory frameworks indicate a potential loosening of enforcement standards. While this may result in short-term growth for tech firms, the lack of regulatory clarity could lead to increased risks and vulnerabilities, particularly for companies managing network security and compliance,” said Dr. Evans, ESQ.

In regards to cloud services and distributed networking, most observers expect that the Trump administration will focus on reducing regulatory barriers to accelerate adoption and put emphasis on private-sector leadership.

“While this approach may facilitate rapid development, it could lead to inconsistent security standards and increase pressure on IT professionals to self-regulate and adopt best practices in the absence of federal guidelines,” said Dr. Evans, ESQ.

Deregulation can also create additional national security concerns.

“If elected, a Trump administration would zero in on national security. Initiatives like 'rip-and-replace', which aims to eliminate outdated systems, would accelerate at full speed, mandating the replacement of untrustworthy hardware from manufacturers like Huawei and ZTE with US-approved alternatives from trusted providers, like Taiwanese hardware. This strengthens national security and ensures telcos are more agile amidst threats,” says Brandon.

“Regardless, Harris and Trump acknowledge the importance of telecom modernization,” Brandon added.

The Wrap Up

“Regardless of the outcome of the election, the next administration’s policies will have a profound impact on the technology landscape, influencing regulations, broadband funding, and digital asset integration,” says Dr. Evans.

Keep in mind that campaign promises often sound good, but they often do not reflect the policies that actually materialize after the election. There are many reasons for this including political shenanigans and Congressional support or lack thereof. It’s important to remain vigilant and track the progress of events and policies.

”The contrasting approaches of each candidate highlight the need for network professionals to remain adaptable, as both paths present unique challenges and opportunities. With digital assets and cloud technologies at the forefront of network innovation," says Evans, "stakeholders must stay informed and engaged with the evolving policy landscape to navigate the changing environment effectively."