NEWS
Federal Communications Commission
445 12
th
Street, S.W.
Washington, DC  20554
This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.
See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).
News Media Information: (202) 418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
FROM THE OFFICE OF COMMISSIONER AJIT PAI Matthew Berry (202) 418-2005
February 20, 2015 Email: Matthew.Berry@fcc.gov
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE OPPOSE PRESIDENT OBAMA’S PLAN TO REGULATE THE 
INTERNET AND SUPPORT FCC TRANSPARENCY
According to a survey conducted over the weekend by Hart Research Associates, a leading 
Democratic polling firm, the American people by a wide margin oppose President Obama’s plan to 
regulate the Internet.  Moreover, they overwhelmingly believe that the Federal Communications 
Commission should make the plan available to the public before any vote.  Among the key findings:
? 56% of Americans do not believe that the government should take a stronger and more active 
role in overseeing and regulating the Internet.  Only 33% favor such government action.
? 53% of Americans believe that it would be harmful for the FCC to do what President Obama has 
requested and regulate the Internet using the same authority it has used to regulate telephone 
service.  Only 32% believe taking that step would be helpful.
? 79% of Americans believe that the exact wording and the details of the plan to regulate the 
Internet should be made public before the FCC votes on it.  Only 13% of Americans oppose 
making the plan’s exact language public prior to the vote.
? Only 9% of Americans believe that the FCC should pass the proposed regulations as they 
currently stand.  85% support either delaying the vote until the full plan is made public or oppose 
any new regulations.
Reacting to the results, FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai stated, “President Obama’s 332-page plan to 
regulate the Internet has awakened a sleeping giant.  Over the last two weeks, it has become clear that the 
American people want the federal government to keep its hands off of the Internet.  Americans also want 
to see the plan before any vote.  Unfortunately, the FCC has steadfastly refused to inform the public 
because it knows that the more the American people find out about President Obama’s plan, the less they 
like it.”
The press release summarizing the survey results is available here: http://bit.ly/1FyPKoO.  The 
full results and methodology of the survey are available here: http://bit.ly/1CSoz2j.