Most Americans Say Cities Should be Able to Build Their Own Broadband Networks

Internet service providers like Comcast and Verizon are often ranked among the least popular companies in the United States, but their interests have large effects on local politics. "More than 20 states have passed laws banning local governments from starting their own broadband service, largely at the behest of internet providers that want to avoid competition at all cost," Jacob Kastrenakes reports in The Verge.

Such prohibitions occur despite a lack of popularity of these laws among Americans. "In a phone survey of over 4,000 people last month, Pew found that 70 percent of respondents agreed that local governments should have the power to start their own high-speed networks if current offerings are 'too expensive or not good enough,'" Kastrenakes reports.

Meanwhile, internet service providers continue to gain power nationwide as new Federal Communications Commission regulations allow them to collect and sell their users’ browser data.