The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said it will hold a vote in February on proposed net neutrality rules, which would stop Internet providers from blocking or throttling access to websites.
The Chairman of the FCC, Tom Wheeler, said to colleagues before Christmas that he intends to circulate a draft proposal internally next month with a vote to take place weeks later. An FCC spokesperson declined to comment, but confirmed the February timetable.
The move comes after US President Barack Obama threw his support behind net neutrality, saying he believes the FCC should reclassify the Internet as a utility, which will allow the US government to stop Internet providers from blocking or throttling access to websites.
Republican lawmakers are expected to introduce legislation this month to preempt the new rules.
Source: Washington Post