At a time when debate about key Internet policy issues, from privacy to taxation of e-commerce, is heating up, a new study sponsored by the Markle Foundation shows that the American public wants a broad range of perspectives and interests involved in the decision-making process.

The study found that while the public has an overwhelmingly favorable view of the Internet (63 percent of all Americans and 83 percent of those who go online), about half of those surveyed viewed the medium as a "source of worry" due to an array of concerns, ranging from online pornography and violence, to the trustworthiness of online information, to privacy violations. In looking for solutions, how-ever, survey respondents favored approaches that involve government, industry, technical experts, nonprofit organizations, and the public itself over "government regulation" or "industry self-regulation" alone.

Among its findings, the survey revealed that the public identifies the Internet primarily as a source of information, with 45 percent saying that their dominant image of the medium was that of a "library," as opposed to 17 percent who compared it to a "shopping mall" or "banking and investment office." Despite its popularity, however, nearly half of those surveyed (45 percent) viewed the medium as a cause for concern, and 70 percent agreed with the statement, "You have to question most things you read on the Internet." By a margin of 54 percent to 36 percent, respondents also said they did not believe they enjoyed the same rights and protections online as they did in the off-line world.

When asked to rate how much of a role ten different groups or institutions should have in making rules for the Internet, respondents gave their most favorable ratings to non-profit organizations, with 70 percent feeling positively about non-profits having a significant role. More than half (55 percent) said the public itself should have a significant voice in Internet regulation, even though respondents had doubts about their own expertise on these issues.

"The Internet is an increasingly important part of the lives of the American people," noted Markle Foundation president Zoe Baird at a press conference at the National Press Club. "This research shows that they have an appreciation for the complexities involved in tackling the critical questions that will affect decisions about the Internet. They want the full range of voices and interests to be heard -- from the private sector and government, to non-profit organizations and the public itself."

To download a copy of the report, in its entirety or by chapter, visit: http://www.markle.org/news/_news_pressreport_index.stm.