Activists who favor so-called “Net Neutrality,” which would actually make the federal government suddenly non-neutral in overregulating the Internet, possess a natural advantage in the battle for public opinion simply because the term “Net Neutrality” sounds so innocuous. After all, people unfamiliar with the issue might think to themselves, “what could be so bad about ‘neutrality?'” Consequently, it became very important for Americans to realize the true nature of this toxic agenda currently being advanced by the Obama Administration, his Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the political left.
For this reason, the results of a new Rasmussen poll are extremely encouraging. By a two-to-one margin (53% to 27%), Americans oppose governmental “Net Neutrality” efforts to regulate the Internet in the same way the government seeks to regulate the airwaves via the “Fairness Doctrine.” Most impressively, this means that public support for “Net Neutrality” has plummeted some 22% since June 2008. Notably, among those who use the Internet either every day or nearly every day, opposition to “Net Neutrality” rises to 63%. In other words, those who are most familiar with the Internet and use it most often oppose “Net Neutrality” even more strongly. They know that “Net Neutrality” advocates’ constant doomsday predictions have been proven nonsense. Opposition also increases among investors, who realize that “Net Neutrality” would undermine the incentives to continue investment and network expansion, which will be necessary for future Internet growth in America. That speaks volumes.
The fight isn’t over, despite public opposition and a Court of Appeals decision last week rejecting the FCC’s alleged authority to impose “Net Neutrality.” Obama’s FCC responded to the Court’s decision in Nancy Pelosi-like fashion, indicating that it will attempt to impose “Net Neutrality” by any means necessary. Nevertheless, these are encouraging signs in this important battle.
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