The majority of Americans support the net neutrality rules that President Donald Trump's administration wants to destroy, according to a new poll.
Seventy-seven percent want to keep the existing net neutrality rules in place, while 81 percent agree that Internet Service Providers should not be able to block or throttle websites or charge extra for preferred access to consumers. The poll was conducted in late June by Civis Analytics, a data science firm, on behalf of DC-based Freedman Consulting, LLC.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai plans to eliminate net neutrality protections which have been in place for the last three years and would allow ISP's to block or slow down content as they see fit. Under former President Barack Obama, the FCC locked in the net neutrality rules but under intense pushback from the industry.
According to the poll, 88 percent agreed that Internet service should come without boundaries and, if they were paying to transmit information between their computer and the websites they visit, it should be "free from interference."
Seventy-five percent also said the Internet access is essential, and that "everyone needs it in the 21st century economy."