A new poll released today by Public Knowledge found deep concerns about AT&T’s takeover of wireless rival T-Mobile. The poll, conducted by Anzalone Liszt Research of 800 likely voters, reported more than 80 percent of those replying had concerns, including 44 percent who were very concerned, about the combination of wireless companies.
The poll similarly found people wanted the federal government, not private Internet Service Providers (ISPs), to serve the consumer-protection function on the Internet. The poll found that by a 27-point margin (58% to 31%), voters say that ISPs should not be allowed to police themselves when it comes to whether they are blocking or slowing down access to websites. The poll also found substantial support for an Internet in which every person and every business has an equal opportunity to succeed.
Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge, said: “The results of this poll show that the public, both Democrats and Republicans, has strong concerns about the ever-increasing power of the telecommunications industry, and that a government role is needed to protect consumers. We can start with blocking AT&T’s takeover of T-Mobile, which will increase the power of a company that doesn’t need to be any more powerful than it already is.”
A summary of the poll prepared by the pollster, is here.
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