Americans Surveyed Reject Aggressive Network Neutrality Regulation for Mobile Broadband and Recognize the Competitive and Innovative Nature of Wireless Industry

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A vast majority of Americans (78 percent) recognize that wireless is different from wired broadband services and warrant a different approach to regulations like net neutrality, according to a Mobile Wireless Service Survey (PDF) released today by CTIA-The Wireless Association®. Conducted by TechnoMetrica, the survey shows a glaring disconnect between the views of a majority of Americans on regulation, mobile services and net neutrality and the policy direction currently being pursued by the Federal Communications Commission.

Americans Want Limited, Mobile-Specific Net Neutrality Rules

• Less Government. Just six percent of Americans think the federal government should decide what new options and services wireless carriers and app providers make available, while nearly three-quarters (73 percent) say the government should be less involved in the evolution of mobile broadband and Internet networks.
• Flexible Wireless Network Management. A strong majority of Americans support wireless companies having the flexibility to manage mobile broadband networks, given the dynamic and competitive nature of wireless ecosystem. Nearly two-thirds of consumers (64 percent) believe that wireless providers should be allowed to manage and optimize network traffic – including targeted techniques to handle bandwidth-intensive users – to ensure the best service for all customers.
• Wireless is Different. Only 16 percent of Americans believe that government regulation should treat mobile services exactly the same as wired services. Meanwhile, 66 percent agree that any rules placed on mobile services must take into account today's wireless technologies and the vibrant, competitive mobile landscape as opposed to imposing Title II-style rules on new providers.

Americans Seek Out Pro-Consumer Mobile Broadband Innovations

• Support Prioritization. If antiquated Title II rules designed for utility services are forced upon wireless companies, Americans would lose out on innovative mobile services and plans. Nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of Americans favor mobile networks and application providers prioritizing services like health monitoring and connected car technologies that need higher quality or greater real-time functionality.
• Want Zero Rating/Sponsored Data. Wireless companies, as well as other consumer brands, differentiate themselves in competitive markets by offering "sponsored data," or access to content that is free to consumers that won't count against their monthly data plans. More than two-thirds (67 percent) of Americans say that they are more likely to choose a provider that offers this sort of promotion, while 74 percent are more likely to watch content from an unknown company if it wouldn't count against their monthly limit, offering a great opportunity for start-ups to attract and reach a new audience.   

Americans Recognize the Advantages of Mobile Broadband

• More Choice. Compared to home Internet and cable providers, a majority of Americans (57 percent) believe they have more choices among wireless providers. 
• More Innovative. By far, more Americans (42 percent) rate wireless companies as more innovative than the federal government (9 percent) or water and electricity companies (13 percent) that are already regulated as utilities.

"This survey proves that a majority of Americans understand that wireless is different, and do not want the additional fees, taxes and regulation that would be imposed under Title II, but rather enjoy the innovation, choice and new services that wireless carriers provide them today," said Meredith Attwell Baker, CTIA President and CEO. "The FCC should recognize that the American people want continued innovative mobile broadband services, not a more intrusive regulatory regime."

TechnoMetrica randomly interviewed 1,280 individuals within the continental United States from December 1-12, 2014. 616 of the interviews were from Random Digit Dial landline sample and 664 from a cellphone sample. The margin of error for respondents' overall is +/- 2.8 percent with a 95 percent confidence level.

To read the survey and methodology, please visit: http://ctia.it/1Iwh326 and infographic: http://ctia.it/1u7Qh7N.

CTIA-The Wireless Association® (www.ctia.org) is an international organization representing the wireless communications industry. Membership in the association includes wireless carriers and their suppliers, as well as providers and manufacturers of wireless data services and products. CTIA advocates on behalf of its members at all levels of government. The association also coordinates the industry's voluntary best practices and initiatives, and sponsors the industry's leading wireless tradeshow. CTIA was founded in 1984 and is based in Washington, D.C.

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SOURCE CTIA-The Wireless Association

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