AT&T defended the vote, saying it wasn't an ideal outcome, but represented a "fair middle ground."

It's time to end the long-standing net neutrality debate, even though AT&T would have preferred no new rules, Jim Cicconi, AT&T's executive vice president for external and legislative affairs, .

Opposition to the rules was "a position supported by the factual record in front of the commission, and by law," he added. "It would also be our preference, especially given the utter absence of any evidence that abuses are occurring in the Internet market, let alone any of the gravity to justify government intervention."

Still, the FCC's vote was an "apparent rejection" of groups calling for heavy-handed government control of the Internet, Cicconi wrote.

The National Cable and Telecommunications Association, representing cable broadband providers, praised Genachowski for advancing a compromise net neutrality proposal and for abandoning earlier efforts to reclassify broadband as a regulated, common-carrier service. New rules weren't necessary, but the compromise will balance Internet openness with the needs of a dynamic online market, said Kyle McSlarrow, NCTA's president and CEO.