Three weeks after it looked like the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) would give up on net neutrality altogether, a vote approved a proposal for new rules that would prevent internet service providers from blocking content.  

Recently, more than 150 web giants released an open letter demanding that the FCC take back responsibility for maintaining net neutrality and an open internet. Earlier this year, a high court decided that the FCC had no authority to regulate net neutrality. 

Open internet is the idea that internet users and content providers should have equal access and distribution of content. Net neutrality is a policy that prevents internet providers, like Verizon or Comcast, from charging different rates for content providers, which could price out independent websites and elevate large sites who can afford to pay for higher speeds. 

While the FCC's proposed rules would prevent internet providers from discriminating against websites by slowing or blocking content, the rules would still allow providers to institute "fast lane" fees. They would also require providers to reveal their practices to web users. 

Three Democrats voted in favor of the plan while two Republicans voted against it, citing that net neutrality wasn't an issue that the commission had authority over, and it should be left to Congress. 

Critics argue that neither party went far enough—a fast lane automatically creates a slow lane and discrimination based on financial assets, undermining equality in the open internet.

The rules will be open to public critique for the next four months.