On May 15, the Federal Communications Commission approved new, controversial net neutrality rules that may allow Internet service providers to charge companies for preferential "fast lane" connection speeds to their services.

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler initially unveiled the proposal in April, in the wake of a Court of Appeals ruling Jan. 14 that judged the FCC overstepped its regulatory authority by enforcing net neutrality. Soon after the ruling, Netflix announced an agreement with Comcast to improve connection speeds for its streaming services for customers of the cable giant, paving the way for Wheeler’s proposal.

Since then, the commission has come under intense scrutiny from net neutrality backers, consumer advocate groups and tech companies large and small. On May 7, 150 firms sent a letter urging the FCC to not adopt the fast lane policy, including giants such as Amazon, Facebook, Google and Microsoft. In the week before the vote, hundreds of protesters camped outside the FCC's building in southwest Washington, D.C.

The 3-2 ruling broke along somewhat-surprising party lines. Wheeler, nominated in May 2013 by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the Senate last October, sided with commission Democrats Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel. Republicans Ajit Pai and Michael O'Rielly voted against the rules, citing regulatory overreach to enforce the rules. Traditionally, Democrats have been in favor of net neutrality more than Republicans, and Clyburn and Rosenworcel raised concerns about Wheeler's plan before the vote.

Yet Wheeler's comments Thursday give some insight as to how possible fast lane arrangements may be overseen.

"The prospect of a gatekeeper choosing winners and losers is unacceptable. I will not allow the national asset of an open Internet to be compromised," the former cable- and wireless-industry lobbyist said. "If a network operator slowed the speed of service below that which the consumer bought, it would be commercially unreasonable and therefore prohibited. If the network operator blocked access to lawful content, it would violate our no-blocking rule and therefore be doubly prohibited."

In response to the somewhat mixed messages by the chairman, President and CEO Craig Aaron of media consumer-advocacy group Free Press replied in a media release, "Tom Wheeler spoke passionately about the open Internet, but his rousing rhetoric doesn't match the reality of his proposal. The only way to accomplish the chairman's goals is to reclassify Internet service providers as common carriers."

Aaron's statement hints at one policy net neutrality backers have advocated for the FCC to make. Under Title II of the Communications Act of 1934, broadband providers could be classified as "common carriers," along the lines of utilities such as home phone providers. The move would subject telecom giants like Verizon and AT&T to many more regulations, including having to treat all Internet access equally.

Michael Powell, a former FCC chairman and current president and CEO of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, said after the May 15 ruling that "treating broadband as a utility-like Title II service would reverse years of settled precedent, dry up investment in broadband deployment and network upgrades, and result in protracted litigation and marketplace uncertainty."

Powell's message has been echoed by congressional Republicans. House GOP leadership, led by Speaker John Boehner, wrote in a letter to Wheeler: "Investment experts advise that implementing such a scheme — or even considering regulating broadband as a Title II service — creates regulatory uncertainty that causes a reduction in the investment capital necessary for even greater broadband deployment."

The rules approved by the commission are not final. They will now head to a 60-day public comment period, after which commissioners will have approximately another 60 days to respond.

Individuals can comment on the FCC's comments page under the "Protecting and Promoting the Open Internet" proceeding. As of 11 a.m. Eastern Time May 16, the proceeding featured 20,000 more comments than any other order of business for the commission.

Net neutrality is an issue that has been in the tech world's collective consciousness for several years, and it affects any person or business that pays for broadband service. No matter what the policy and enforcement the FCC ultimately reaches later this year, vigorous debate is sure to continue.