Brian Snyder / Reuters Prime Minister Justin Trudeau greets students from Girls Who Code, a national non-profit organization which teaches computer skills to girls, in Providence, R.I., July 14, 2017. Trudeau's support of

TORONTO — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's support of "net neutrality" is encouraging but the concept should be enshrined in federal law to protect it from being dismantled, an open-internet activist said Thursday. The comments came as it appears likely that the U.S. Federal Communications Commission will overturn an Obama-era policy that prevents internet service providers from using pricing or other barriers to block or favour content. "I think one of the good things right now is that we do have net neutrality in Canada," said OpenMedia executive director Laura Tribe in an interview from Ottawa. Watch: Tech firms are starting to speak up against the FCC's plan to kill net neutrality

But, she added, Canadian net neutrality is protected in multiple decisions by a federal regulator rather than in specific sections of either the Broadcast or Telecommunications acts, which govern the internet and communications services. "What OpenMedia is asking for is: for net neutrality to be enshrined in principle in the Telecommunications Act itself, to make sure this is no longer interpreted in multiple (CRTC) decisions ... and really clearly spelled out," Tribe said. Tribe acknowledged that the Trudeau government's previously announced review of the two acts may pose a risk as well as an opportunity but added that said she's encouraged by the prime minister's remarks this week. The prime minister told reporters at a housing announcement in Toronto late Wednesday, that "we need to continue to defend net neutrality. And I will." More from HuffPost Canada: Justin Trudeau, Other World Leaders Praise Net Neutrality Ahead Of FCC's Planned Repeal

FCC Faces Scrutiny For Refusing To Turn Over Evidence On Net Neutrality Comments Trudeau didn't specify what his government would do if, as expected, the FCC votes in December to remove restrictions to how U.S. internet service providers manage their networks. The deciding vote will likely be cast by FCC chair Ajit Pai, an appointee of U.S. President Donald Trump. Both have been critics of restrictions on internet service providers. Alyssa Moore, a policy and strategy analyst for Calgary-based Cybera.ca, said that a change in U.S. regulatory policy wouldn't have direct impact to Canadian internet users but could affect Canadian competitiveness in the United States. "This could take the form of American ISPs (internet service providers) prioritizing their own content traffic in the form of zero-rating it, or delivering it at better speeds," Moore said in an email. Moore also said that submissions to a 2016 consultation by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission showed that several Canadian ISPs support the ability to zero-rate content.

Aaron Bernstein / Reuters Ajit Pai, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), testifies before a Senate Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., June 20, 2017.