The Federal Communications Commission voted Thursday to repeal Obama-era net neutrality regulations that guaranteed equal access to the Internet, a controversial reversal that drew swift rebuke by companies and politicians in the Bay Area, where many advocates for the rules said they counted on them to protect Internet users and foster the growth of startups.

The FCC’s 3-2 decision, with the panel’s Republican members outvoting its Democrats, was hailed by big Internet service providers like Verizon, AT&T and Comcast.

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Barbara van Schewick, a Stanford law professor, said she expects the FCC’s order to be overturned in the courts.

“Today’s vote is a stain on the FCC,” van Schewick said in a statement. “For decades, the FCC prided itself on being careful, deliberate and transparent in its mission to keep the Internet open for free speech, commerce and innovation, while maintaining incentives for broadband providers to invest. This FCC has failed to live up to that standard.”