As widely expected, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission voted along party lines to approve new net neutrality rules by reclassifying broadband as a regulated public utility, to the cheers of many tech companies and consumers and the jeers of large broadband providers. The rules will prohibit broadband providers from selectively blocking or slowing Web traffic and from offering paid traffic prioritization services, but they will almost certainly face a court challenge from the likes of Verizon Communications, AT&T and Comcast.