The Federal Communications Commission's net neutrality rules took effect today, and you can file complaints against your Internet service provider (or mobile data provider) on the FCC's website.

The submission form already allowed consumers to file complaints about availability, interference, billing, equipment, privacy, and speed. The form has been updated to include "Open Internet/Net Neutrality" issues:

The complaint process is the same whether you're raising a stink about an equipment or speed problem or net neutrality. You'll get a tracking number and will be able to check the status of the complaint online. An FCC consumer representative will review your complaint and may contact you to gather more information.

If the complaint is "actionable or constitute[s] a rule violation," the FCC sends the complaint to your Internet service provider, which must respond in writing within 30 days and copy you on the response.

The core net neutrality rules prohibit blocking or throttling of lawful content, or "paid prioritization," in which online content providers pay for faster access to consumers.

Other rules aren't as specific. There is no ban on data caps, but providers are not allowed to use caps to harm consumers or competitors. Technically, the FCC said it would address concerns about data allowances and usage-based pricing plans "under the no-unreasonable interference/disadvantage [standard] on a case-by-case basis."

The FCC did not detail specific price caps or allowable rates, but consumers could complain that prices and practices are "unjust or unreasonable," the standard for common carriers under Title II of the Communications Act. Consumers could complain about almost anything, given the FCC's approach of adopting a "general conduct rule." In FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler's words, this general standard will be applied "to stop new and novel threats to the Internet... If an action hurts consumers, competition, or innovation, the FCC will have the authority to throw the flag."



Providers also must abide by new disclosure rules , so they have to clearly detail data caps as well as all charges, such as modem rental and installation fees, and they must disclose the full monthly price that will go into effect after any promotional pricing expires. Technically, this rule hasn't gone into effect yet because new disclosure requirements require an additional approval by the Office of Management and Budget to comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act.

Other things must also be hammered out, such as how the FCC will enforce additional privacy rules.

Internet service providers have tried to stop the rules from taking effect, but they lost a petition for a stay in federal appeals court yesterday. Republicans in Congress have also tried to block the new rules but were unable to do so before today's enactment date.