The Taxi and Limousine Commission made history this morning, when its commissioners voted to set the first minimum-pay rate in the nation for app-based drivers.

Driver groups are declaring victory and claiming credit for the win—while Uber, Lyft and Juno found a lot to complain about. Only pooled-ride service Via, which already pays its drivers better than minimum wage, applauded the changes.

The rules, which will go into effect in 30 days, call for a minimum gross pay of $27.86 per hour, which will boil down to $17.22 after expenses. That is the equivalent of $15 per hour for an independent contractor, including paid sick leave and payroll taxes.

Most drivers, a TLC-commissioned study found, earn about $11.90 an hour. On an annual basis, the new rules will mean a raise of around $10,000.

"It's a beginning," said Meera Joshi, chair of the Taxi and Limousine Commission, speaking to reporters after the vote. Pointing out that 96% of drivers make less than minimum wage, she added, "This is a very important, landmark vote to say, 'This isn't acceptable in New York City.'"

Rival labor groups the Independent Drivers Guild and the New York Taxi Workers Alliance issued statements praising the move. They also pointed out that they had mounted campaigns in the past two years to counter the decline in pay that has accompanied the massive growth of app-based services, which now depend on more than 80,000 drivers.

A string of eight driver suicides also has put pressure on city officials and regulators to address the industry's economic troubles.

The pay per ride will be determined through a formula that has driver-utilization rates—basically the amount of time a car is carrying a passenger as opposed to cruising for one—as a common denominator.

Though all the app-based companies say they support higher wages, the rules will affect each differently. Services with a high utilization rate—that is, their cars are full a lot more than their rivals' cars are—will eventually have the opportunity to pay their drivers less per ride. That's because their drivers will make up the money with more rides over the course of an hour.

For the first year under the new rules, the TLC will use one, aggregated utilization rate across the industry that has yet to be determined. But a service with a higher rate can petition to use its own rate—and pay drivers less per ride than competitors.

Whether that happens during the first year or later, both Lyft and Juno are worried.

"Unfortunately, the TLC's proposed pay rules will undermine competition by allowing certain companies to pay drivers lower wages," a Lyft spokeswoman wrote in a statement.

Joshi said that basing the model on utilization rates ensures that it is in each company's interest that drivers "stay busy."

Uber isn't happy either. The rules don't count incentives or bonuses as pay, which the company says will make it harder to encourage drivers to work in areas where they're needed most—that is, outside Manhattan.

Nora Marino, the only one of the eight TLC commissioners to vote no on the plan, said she supported the ultimate goal but was worried about the unintended consequences. "At this point, there are too many unanswered questions," she said.

Via, however, is ready for what's ahead.

"As the industry leader in driver earnings in New York City, we are looking forward to working with the TLC on implementing this rule," a spokeswoman said.

Joshi will discuss the effects of the cap on Uber and Lyft, the commission's efforts to raise drivers' wages and the future of the taxi and livery industries on Jan. 8 at a Crain's breakfast forum.