• by Wendy Davis  @wendyndavis, February 26, 2015

The Federal Communications Commission voted on Thursday to impose net neutrality rules that prohibit broadband providers from blocking or degrading traffic and from creating online fast lanes.

“Today history is being made by a majority of this commission as we vote for a fast, fair and open internet,” Chairman Tom Wheeler said near the conclusion of the agency's meeting Thursday morning.

The FCC's three Democrats voted in favor of the order, which reclassifies broadband service as a utility. The two GOP commissioners opposed the move.

“The Internet is simply too important to allow broadband providers to be the ones making the rules,” Wheeler said, as the audience cheered.

“The Internet has replaced the functions of the telephone and the Post Office. The Internet has redefined commerce and entertainment,” Wheeler said in a short statement delivered immediately before the vote. “The Internet is the ultimate vehicle for free expression.”

Wheeler also dismissed criticisms that the rules marked a government takeover of the Web. “This proposal has been described by one opponent as a, quote, 'Secret plan to regulate the Internet.' Nonsense,” he said. “This is no more a plan to regulate the Internet than the First Amendment is a plan to regulate free speech.”