(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Half of adults in the United States believe the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) should regulate the Internet like it does radio and television, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 49 per cent of respondents agree with the idea, while 35 per cent disagree.

In June 2006, U.S. president George W. Bush signed the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2005, saying, "By allowing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to levy stiffer and more meaningful fines on broadcasters who violate decency standards, this law will ensure that broadcasters take seriously their duty to keep the public airwaves free of obscene, profane and indecent material. American families expect and deserve nothing less." The law increases the maximum fine for indecent programming from $32,500 U.S. to $325,000 U.S.

Last month, the FCC discussed plans to auction a section of wireless airwaves to buyers willing to provide free broadband Internet service, with the condition that no pornographic content is included. The official statement read: "Additional obligations associated with the licensee’s free broadband service would include a requirement to provide a network-based filtering mechanism for the free Internet service in order to protect children and families, and a requirement that the network allow for the use of open devices."

Polling Data

Should the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulate the Internet like it does radio and television?

Source: Rasmussen Reports
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,000 likely American voters, conducted on Jun. 16 and 17, 2008. Margin of error is 3 per cent.

Archive Search

Over 19,600 Polls
Search the Angus Reid Global Monitor Polls & Research archive.