If you've noticed that your favorite website or Internet service has been showing a loading screen today, don't fear that your connection speeds are dropping dramatically — at least for now. The Internet Slowdown is part of plan by a group of websites and advocacy organizations to protest new net neutrality rules proposed by FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler that could create so-called fast lanes for various services and Internet service providers.

The one-day effort, which on some sites brings up an extended loading symbol before connecting the user to the intended site, includes several of the Web's most popular services and sites like Netflix, Reddit, Imgur, Wordpress and Vimeo. Political groups like the American Civil Liberties Union, Greenpeace and Democracy for America are also involved.

According to a news release by nonprofit Fight for the Future, one of the chief organizers of the protest, the slowdown "will give a glimpse into what the Internet might look like if the FCC's proposed rules go into effect."

The Sept. 10 date falls just five days before the FCC's deadline for open comment on the proposed rules, and the groups spearheading the effort urge consumers to comment on the Commission's website. To this point, the FCC has received more than 1.3 million comments on the rules.

The objective of the groups and companies, which also call themselves "Team Internet," is not just to defeat Wheeler's proposed and initially approved rules. It's also to push the FCC to regulate the Internet under Title II of the Telecommunications Act as a utility, allowing for the FCC to more stringently regulate ISPs and institute consumer protections not currently allowed under the current rules.

The National Cable & Telecommunications Association, an influential association for lobbying in the telecom industry, believes that Title II reclassification would be an archaic step backward and lead to slower networks, less innovation and higher prices. Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) recently came out in support of reclassification and sent a letter to Wheeler also urging the rejection of the fast lane rules.

While the publicity of the slowdown has centered around the largest websites to participate, any Web or app developer who wants to participate can insert various widgets or push notifications into their website or app to draw attention to the effort.

The Fight for the Future organization played a strong role in the Internet's fight against the SOPA/PIPA online piracy bills in early 2012. That effort was ultimately one of the factors that led to the bills' defeat. Soon, Internet users will know if the FCC's rules will suffer a similar fate as a result of the Internet Slowdown.