As the Federal Communications Commission is set to approve new Internet rules, a new report shows that George Soros and the Ford Foundation have donated $196 million to groups that support the cause.

From 2000 to 2013, the Ford Foundation has donated $113.6 million and the Open Society Foundations, founded by Soros, has donated $82.7 to pro-net neutrality groups, the Media Research Center is reporting. Both groups support changing the net neutrality rules. 

In addition, some of the groups they have funded are also directly linked to the Obama administration, including some individuals who now have positions at the White House. Such groups include the Center for American Progress, the American Civil Liberties Union, and Media Matters for America — all three support net neutrality.

"These left-wing groups not only impacted the public debate and funded top liberal think tanks," the report from the Media Research Center states, "they also have direct ties to the White House and regulatory agencies."

In addition, "at least five individuals from these groups have ascended to key positions at the White House and FCC," the report adds.

Net neutrality is set to be approved by the FCC Thursday. Under the proposed rules, Internet service would be treated like a utility. It is currently treated like an information service, according to rules passed under the George W. Bush Administration.

Detractors fear that the proposed rules will lead to taxation and a micromanaging of Internet services by the government, while those who support the new regulations fear that without it, large Internet service providers will be able to manipulate traffic on their networks and pick winners and losers.

Cyber expert Steven J.J. Weisman told Newsmax that while net neutrality will most likely pass, he said that he's "not sure what the rush is here because the Internet providers are not setting these higher rates" that net neutrality supporters fear.

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