With pressure from small technology companies and an army of internet supporters seeking to keep the internet equally available to everyone, the Federal Communications Commission is expected to announce on Thursday that the internet will be regulated as a public good according to the New York Times.
The move comes under continuing pressure on Washington, D.C. lawmakers to ensure smaller internet companies, like Tumblr and Urban Dictionary have the same broadband access to consumers as larger ones, like Verizon and Comcast. During the legal wrangling some of the largest internet companies like Netflix however, stayed away from the picking a side.
The White House has pressured the F.C.C. since November to ensure that broadband providers would not have the ability to charge higher prices for faster speed.
While Republican legislators have generally been in favor of allowing companies to pay for more broadband accesses, on Tuesday they all but conceded the fight.
However, some are suggesting that if the F.C.C. begins its regulation it could be challenged through litigation.
If the F.C.C. follows through with their expected action, it will become official after a vote on Thursday.