Politics and the Internet are not likely to become bedfellows -- strange or familiar -- during the next White House administration. As George W Bush clinches victory in the hotly contested US presidential election, a new research paper has concluded that the Texas governor will assume a hands-off approach to the Internet and technological initiatives. "The top items on the Bush policy list are not of high priority for the Internet," Dave McClure, chief executive of the US Internet Industry Association, wrote in a research report issued Wednesday. "They include an expansion of H1-B visas, promotion of biotechnology and reform of the technology export rules. Even in these areas, technology will not be a legislative priority." But it is tough to speculate how Bush's noninterventionist theories will play out during the next congressional session, which could be chock-full of important initiatives on copyright, Internet gambling, unsolicited commercial email and infrastructure issues such as open access. The Bush administration could also preside over a significant revisitation of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which is widely perceived as having failed in its efforts to stimulate meaningful reform and competition. "Generally, we can expect these issues to reflect a business orientation," McClure wrote of Bush's hands-off stance on the Internet and technology. "The consumer issues that have been the hallmark of the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Communications Commission under the Clinton administration will not go away, but the hard line taken against businesses -- such as the antitrust actions against Microsoft and the hard stances taken in merger reviews--are far less likely." Bush's approach is a stark contrast to the stated goals, track record and public perception of vice president Al Gore, and the politicians sparred over their tech strategies in televised debates. Long intrigued by technology, Gore took a highly active role in promoting the Internet while in Congress and as vice president. Gore defined the fledgling Internet as an "information superhighway" and advocated public-private partnerships dedicated to turning research findings into commercial products. His critics lambasted him for being an overly zealous tech champion and for his admittedly regrettable quote that he "took the initiative in creating the Internet". Take me to Pt II/ Bush not interested. At some point during the next four years the new US administration is going to take up the question of how to ensure security on an insecure Internet. Charles Cooper hopes it is more possessed of inspired brilliance about how to achieve that cherished objective than the outgoing administration. Go to AnchorDesk UK for the news comment. Have your say instantly, and see what others have said. Click on the TalkBack button and go to the ZDNet News forum. Let the editors know what you think in the Mailroom. And read what others have said.