This morning the Federal Communications Commission passed what proponents of net neutrality would call an ideal rule for net neutrality, by defining internet service providers (ISPs) as common carriers.

In a 3-2, party-line vote, the rules went through.

As the vote neared, Mayor Bill de Blasio published an op-ed on Huffington Post in support of FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler’s proposed rules.

Etsy CEO Chad Dickerson traveled to Washington to speak at the hearing. He previewed his thoughts, however, in a post on Medium where he explained how an open internet enabled a young English major to make his way in the tech economy.

After the vote, Kickstarter CEO Yancey Strickler circulated a brief statement via press release:

A free Internet with equal access for all is vital to a diverse and vibrant culture of open exchange. We’re grateful that the FCC has heard the millions of voices who believe in a free and open internet. Today’s step is a huge victory, however, we must remain diligent in protecting everyone’s rights as citizens of the web.

Etsy and Kickstarter were arguably two of the loudest corporate voices on the net neutrality issue. They were both founding members of an open-internet lobbying group in Washington.

VHX, which has spoken out on the issue throughout, posted a photo of the commissioners whose votes passed the new rules:

The largest Meetup group around, weighed in with its two cents:

#NetNeutrality wins. We all win. Big day for the open internet. And this was a fight led by #nyctech: http://t.co/XyIlgDR2tf — NY Tech Meetup (@NYTM) February 26, 2015

Technical.ly Brooklyn has been following this issue closely.

-30-