Subject: PRESS RELEASE: New Survey Finds Americans Skeptical That FCC Regulation of the Internet Will be Helpful; Favor More Disclosure
From: "Cody Tucker, Progressive Policy Institute" <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked]
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2015 12:05:06 -0500

PROGRESSIVE POLICY INSTITUTE

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*For Immediate Release*
February 19, 2015

Contact: Cody Tucker at [email-masked], 202.525.3926 or Steven Chlapecka at [email-masked], 202.525.3931

NEW SURVEY FINDS AMERICANS SKEPTICAL THAT FCC REGULATION OF THE INTERNET WILL BE HELPFUL; FAVOR MORE DISCLOSURE

*WASHINGTON, D.C.*-The Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) today released the results of a new survey finding that most Americans are unfamiliar with the term "net neutrality," want greater disclosure of the details of the FCC's proposal to regulate the Internet, and think that the government regulating the Internet like a public utility will not be helpful. 

The nationwide survey, by Hart Research Associates, was conducted from February 13 to 15, 2015 on behalf of PPI. The survey was conducted by telephone (both landline and cell phone) among a cross section of 800 adults age 18 and over. It found:
  * Three out of four (75%) Americans are unfamiliar with the term "net neutrality" and what it refers to.
  * 73% of Americans want greater disclosure of the details of the FCC's proposal to regulate the Internet.
  * Nearly eight in ten (79%) Americans favor public disclosure of the exact wording and details of the FCC's proposal to regulate the Internet before the FCC votes on it.
  * Only one in three Americans thinks that regulating the Internet like telephone service will be helpful.

"The public neither understands nor supports the FCC voting on net neutrality rules without greater disclosure of the exact wording and the details of the proposal," said *Peter Hart, Founder of Hart Research Associates*. "Net neutrality is near net zero understanding: just one in four Americans knows what the term refers to, and just one in 10 Americans has positive feelings about it. In addition, a majority of Americans think 'the government should not take a stronger and more active role in overseeing and regulating the Internet.'"

"These findings suggest that the FCC's bid to impose outdated telephone regulations on the Internet is driven more by professional activists than by the public, which seems instinctively to resist the idea," said *Will Marshall, PPI President*. "That's why Congress should take a closer look at what the FCC is up to and make sure these issues get a thorough public airing."

The survey's margin of error is ±3.46 percentage points for 800 adults at the 95% confidence level. Sample tolerances for subgroups are larger. This is the first of several public opinion surveys PPI plans to release on issues related to regulation of the Internet and telecommunications law.

Download the survey results [ http://www.progressivepolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/2015.02_Survey_FCC-Approach-to-Net-Neutrality.pdf ]. 

"*For more information*", contact Cody Tucker at [email-masked], 202.525.3926 or Steven Chlapecka at [email-masked], 202.525.3931. 

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The Progressive Policy Institute is an independent, innovative and high-impact DC-based think tank founded in 1989. Through research, policy analysis and dialogue, PPI develops break-the-mold ideas aimed at economic growth, national security and modern, performance-based government. Today, PPI's unique mix of political realism and policy innovation continues to make it a leading source of pragmatic and creative ideas. PPI is a non-profit, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) educational organization.

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