Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler testifies during a House Energy and Commerce Communications and Technology Subcommittee hearing on oversight of the FCC, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. on May 20, 2014. UPI/Kevin Dietsch | License Photo

WASHINGTON, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- The long awaited decision on net neutrality rules will be voted on by the Federal Communications Commission in February, according to its spokeswoman.

The Washington Post cites an unnamed source as saying FCC chairman Tom Wheeler has told commissioners he will be distributing a draft proposal next month.


FCC spokeswoman Kim Hart confirmed the commission plans to make its decision in February.

The net neutrality debate has heated up since President Barack Obama backed reclassifying the Internet as a Title II utility.

"I am asking the Federal Communications Commission to answer the call of almost 4 million public comments, and implement the strongest possible rules to protect net neutrality," the president said in November.

It is unclear what rules Wheeler will be proposing in February.

"The big dogs are going to sue, regardless of what comes out," Wheeler said in November. "We need to make sure that we have sustainable rules. That starts with making sure that we have addressed the multiplicity of issues that have come along."