By Joseph Chalfant

A new poll found that voters are increasingly in favor of regulating the tech industry.

The Morning Consult poll of 1,995 voters across the country found that 53% of voters would support a bill to regulate tech giants like Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google. However, 44% of participants ranked tech regulation as the least important issue behind the economy, public health, climate change, and infrastructure.

After participants were asked if they would still support regulation if it would impact services like Amazon’s free shipping or from selling Amazon Basic products, they were 49% more likely to oppose regulative legislation. The partisan sentiment was similar, with 44% of Democrats and 46% of Republicans standing opposed to the bill and 15% and 14% having no opinion.

The poll dropped as Congress is increasing its efforts to rein in the tech industry. The House introduced five bills targeting companies that regulatory agencies claim are using their dominant position in the marketplace to squeeze out competitors. The Senate also introduced a bill that aims to consolidate regulatory power with the Department of Justice and increase its funding.

In response to the proposed legislation, the companies, lobbyists, and moderate politicians attempted to slow down the push by demanding additional hearings before the markup in the Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law on June 23.

“They put at risk-free services that consumers use to message and call loved ones, get directions, connect with healthcare professions, consume online content‚ including news and educational content‚ and much more,” TechNet President Linda Moore told subcommittee members, according to The Hill.

Some groups are worried that the proposals could cripple the tech startup industry, shutting small businesses out from entering the larger marketplace. The National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) outlined specific concerns with each bill in a letter to co-sponsors Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO).

“Barring acquisitions of companies by select acquirers would close the door to this opportunity for many startups, depressing the economics of startup investment and therefore creating a significant disincentive for new company formation, job creation, and innovation in our country,” (NVCA) said in the statement.

CEO of tech lobbying group Chamber of Progress, Adam Kovacevich, suggested that the regulations would hurt consumers.

“Banning conveniences like Amazon Basics brand batteries, Apple’s Find my Phone tool or Google Maps appearing in Google search results are ideas that would spark a consumer backlash,” said Kovacevich.

On June 23, the Chamber of Progress sent letters to subcommittee members reiterating the impact legislation may have on the market. Richard Luchette, a spokesman for subcommittee chairman Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI), countered that Congress is attempting to hold large companies responsible for anti-competitive behavior.

“I do not have a comment on the fact that tech platforms holding monopoly power are trying to delay long-overdue reforms that will require them to play by the same rules as everyone else,” Luchette told The Hill.