A lobbying group representing some the world’s biggest Internet companies, including Google Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Facebook Inc. and Netflix Inc., is fighting to save net neutrality.

Following a draft of revised net neutrality conditions by Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai, which could overhaul the regulations put in place by the Obama administration, the Internet Association expressed its support of current rules. Net neutrality embodies the idea that Internet service providers should provide access to all content and applications without favoring or blocking any particular websites.

In summary of a meeting with Pai, the association said it “continues its vigorous support of the FCC’s Open Internet Order, which is a vital component of the free and open Internet.” The group added that “the Internet industry is uniform in its belief that net neutrality preserves the consumer experience, competition and innovation online,” and so existing rules should remain intact.

Pai’s plans are not yet written in stone, but one of his proposals would be to replace the FCC’s net neutrality rules, with Internet Service Providers committing to voluntary net neutrality stipulations written in their terms of service.

If ISPs were to violate these terms, another agency, the Federal Trade Commission, could punish ISPs for unfair practices. The main criticism is that the FTC doesn’t have the expertise of the FCC nor the power to prohibit wrongdoing if an ISP should commit a violation.

It’s not yet evident what exactly Pai plans to do, but the main concern by those against net neutrality changes is that ISPs could charge much higher fees to websites for using “fast lanes,” or access to faster Internet speeds for paying websites. As well, ISPs would have unfettered freedom to employ “choke points” – to slow down sites – and the power to block certain content. With the FCC out of the picture, Internet companies fear ISPs may just run wild.

It’s reported that Pai’s final mandate will be revealed in May, which may provoke a similar outcry to that in 2014 when net neutrality issues were a cause celebre.

Image: Dennis Skley via Flickr