Bipartisan Support for Net Neutrality

On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate voted 52-47 in favor of overturning the FCC’s decision to repeal net neutrality. The regulation, put in place by the FCC under the Obama administration in 2015, essentially ensures that all internet traffic is treated equally by internet service providers and prevents them from blocking or prioritizing content from certain companies over others. In December 2017, the FCC had decided to repeal the current set of rules, arguing that net neutrality would limit internet freedom and stifle investment and innovation.

As our chart, based on a recent poll commissioned by the nonpartisan group Voice of the People, illustrates, Americans are surprisingly united in their support of current net neutrality rules. 86 percent of the registered voters polled by Nielsen Scarborough oppose the FCC's plans to repeal net neutrality rules, with similar numbers found across all political camps.

While yesterday’s ruling was a major win for Democrats and net neutrality advocates, it was only a first step: to roll back the FCC’s decision using the Congressional Review Act, Democrats need a majority vote in the House as well as the president’s signature, which is unlikely considering he publicly supported the FCC’s decision in December.