Federal regulators are ready to take some action against Internet providers that intend to restrict their customers’ moves and actions while online.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Kevin J. Martin said Friday that Comcast, the nation’s largest cable operator, should be stopped from trying to impose restrictions on Internet connections of users exchanging large files with other people.

Pointing out that the priority of order was to stop Comcast’s practices, Kevin Martin said he would not set a fine against the cable service provider. He also said during a news conference that Comcast failed to meet "reasonable" management requirements for its network and that he would pursue endorsement from the other four commissioners to prevent the company from making use of its policy to delay some direct exchanges of video and other files between users on its network.

Comcast has claimed that its practices are equitable and that the company slowed only certain traffic by the heaviest users who were reaching rapidly to use large amounts of bandwidth on their shared network and diminishing service for other Internet users.

The cable provider has also challenged the FCC’s right to even to say anything on the matter.

The recommendation of the nation’s telecommunications chief regulator represents a step forward for reaching network neutrality, as Internet access providers like Comcast should not be permitted to prefer some uses of their networks over others. Martin’s proposal will be voted on by the commission when it reunites on August 1.

Google and other Internet companies and free speech supporters have backed this plan.