FCC To Vote On Net Neutrality

By Ian Bush

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- Democrats outnumber Republicans on the Federal Communications Commission, and it's expected to be a party-line vote today approving sweeping new rules for the Internet. Supporters of 'net neutrality' say it's the only way to ensure big broadband companies don't play favorites with websites. Those opposed say it'll mean higher prices and less investment.

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler is taking the hard line after President Obama said, "I'm urging the Federal Communications Commission to do everything they can to protect net neutrality for everyone."

After millions of public comments and the strong statement from President Obama, it comes down to this morning and the FCC's open meeting in Washington.

Wheeler, a Democrat, says his plan to regulate broadband access as a public utility is necessary to preserve competition and prevent companies like Comcast, AT&T, and Verizon from blocking, slowing, or speeding up sites based on what they pay.

One of the loudest critics of the plan is Republican FCC commissioner Ajit Pai: "[It] opens the door to billions of dollars in new taxes on broadband."

And, Pai says, it will depress innovation among Internet Service Providers.

"[It] will simply mean less choice and less free data for consumers," he says.

A vote to approve is very likely to be met by lawsuits from the ISPs.