Survey: Broad Bi-Partisan Consumer Support For Net Neutrality A new survey (pdf) by the University of Delaware's Center for Political Communication found that support for neutrality is widespread and growing, and is increasingly seeing bi-partisan support from Democrats and Republicans alike. According to the study, 81% oppose "allowing Internet service providers to charge some websites or streaming video services extra for faster speeds," while only 17% are in favor of allowing such behavior.

Amusingly, the survey also found that viewers of satirical news programs like "The Daily Show" and "Last Week Tonight With John Oliver" are significantly more informed on the issue of net neutrality that viewers of traditional news programs. The vast majority of American consumers, the study notes, actually know little to nothing about what net neutrality is or how it impacts them. "The University of Delaware research found that only 10% of Americans have heard a lot about how 'the US government is considering new rules for Internet service providers.' Another 39% have heard a little, whereas fully half (50%) have heard nothing at all about the topic." The survey results are a double-edged sword for the nation's incumbent ISPs. On the one hand, growing bi-partisan support of stronger neutrality rules by an educated public could push the Title II debate into SOPA-level activism. On the flip side, when your audience has absolutely no idea what you (or they) are talking about, it makes it easier to conflate net neutrality with completely unrelated issues, as we saw plenty of this week: Obama’s attack on the internet is another top down power grab. Net neutrality is the Fairness Doctrine. Will target conservative media. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 12, 2014 "Net Neutrality" is Obamacare for the Internet; the Internet should not operate at the speed of government. — Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) November 10, 2014







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rlindsay

join:2001-01-24

Silver Spring, MD 6 recommendations rlindsay Member Trump and Cruz I'm pretty convinced you could kill either of them by telling them Obama supports breathing. JPL

Premium Member

join:2007-04-04

Downingtown, PA 2 recommendations JPL Premium Member Not what the survey actually says



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This is a new poll that came out and is right in line with every other survey I've seen (don't like Rasmussen... take your pick... Pew found the same thing a couple years ago). It's one thing to want a result, but this is nothing more than wishful thinking. How do you read a survey that says 'Americans don't like these special deals with companies like Netflix' as: 'Americans want net neutrality'? Just because Americans don't like the current arrangement doesn't necessarily mean they're in favor of the proposed 'cure'. The survey you quote says NOTHING about whether Americans are in favor of what's actually being proposed. But there are other surveys that do:This is a new poll that came out and is right in line with every other survey I've seen (don't like Rasmussen... take your pick... Pew found the same thing a couple years ago). It's one thing to want a result, but this is nothing more than wishful thinking.