WASHINGTON DC – President Obama came out strongly Monday for the concept of net neutrality, saying that “an open Internet is essential to the American economy, and increasingly to our very way of life.”

In a written statement, Obama asked the Federal Communications Commission to “create a new set of rules protecting net neutrality,” and to ensure that phone and cable companies will not be able “to act as a gatekeeper, restricting what you can do or see online,” the Washington Post reported.

While Internet users and companies praised Obama’s comments, major corporations called it an overreaction that would lead to lawsuits and worse service.

The FCC may make a decision by the end of the year.

In the statement ? issued while Obama is in China for meetings ? the president noted that “the FCC is an independent agency, and ultimately this decision is theirs alone.”

Obama urged an “explicit ban” on “paid prioritization,” agreements in which large content providers pay Internet companies for faster delivery. This involves such profitable, high-traffic sites such as Netflix, Amazon and YouTube.

He also called for banning the blocking of certain websites and the “throttling” of Internet service.

The president, who recorded his statement on video, also called on the FCC to classify broadband Internet as a telecommunications service. Major broadband providers have objected, saying it would make their business subject to onerous regulations.

In a statement of its own, Verizon said that “the light-touch regulatory approach in place for the past two decades has been central to the Internet’s success.” Reclassification under federal rules “would be a radical reversal of course that would in and of itself threaten great harm to an open Internet.”

Verizon also said new rules would invite “strong legal challenges.”

Net neutrality backers, meanwhile, cheered Obama’s declaration.

“This statement, I think, gives the political cover for the FCC to actually do the right thing,” said Marvin Ammori, an adviser to tech companies.

Ammori called Obama’s statement a major win for net neutrality supporters, and “there is rejoicing among every start-up company in America right now.”

He added about Obama: “This is his key campaign promise in technology.”