FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, on Monday, circulated a proposal to reform the rates of so-called special access services, the large-pipe connections used by businesses and mobile carriers to connect to the Internet.

Verizon and AT&T, which control by some estimates 80 percent of special access services in the U.S., have disputed the need for new regulations by saying the special access market is increasingly competitive. But several groups, including Sprint Nextel, Public Knowledge and XO Communications, have long complained that AT&T and Verizon are charging too much.

"There is widespread agreement that the existing framework is broken, which is why we propose to temporarily suspend consideration of pricing flexibility petitions pending development of a new framework," an FCC official said in a statement. "Our reforms will aim to protect competition; ensure access to robust, affordable broadband for small business, mobile providers, and others; and eliminate regulations where evidence of competition exists."

The NoChokePoints Coalition, representing several groups calling for special access reform, cheered the FCC's announcement.

"This action would have a meaningful and positive effect on the economy, perhaps most importantly for America's small businesses and anchor institutions, both of which depend on these critical high speed broadband lines," the group said in a statement.