Specifically, it would become the ISP's "duty to not block, interfere with, discriminate against, impair or degrade the ability of any person to use an Internet access service to access, use, send, post, receive or offer any lawful content, application or service through the Internet."

Also prohibited would be the imposition of any "charge on any Internet content, service or application provider to enable any lawful Internet content, application or service to be offered, provided or used through the provider's service, beyond the end user charges associated with providing the service to such provider."

In essence, no discrimination against legal content, and no charging Google or Amazon for faster service on the ISP's network.

As one might expect, the introduction of the legislation was met with delight from the numerous Internet activist groups that have been campaigning for Net neutrality legislation (and stronger action from the FCC) for years. A sampling:

Free Press' Ben Scott: "The rules that govern the Internet must protect economic innovation, democratic participation and free speech online. If we don't make Net neutrality the law once and for all, we could see the innovation and promise of the Internet derailed forever."

Public Knowledge's Gigi Sohn: "The requirements in the bill are very straightforward. In essence, the bill would return non-discrimination to communications law, preventing Internet service providers (ISPs), such as telephone and cable companies, from interfering in that end-to-end relationship. The requirements would curb the ability of ISPs from using the claim of network management to impose their own priorities on data traffic, based on financial arrangements or other considerations."

The Open Internet Coalition's Markham Erickson: "Currently, technology investors and innovators face an uncertain future -- the extent of protection for consumers to use the applications and services of their choice is unclear and under challenge in federal court. We look forward to action in Congress and at the FCC to ensure Net neutrality protections are codified in the law and the veil of uncertainty is lifted."