The Federal Communications Commission extended the deadline for the first round of comments on net neutrality until July 18, due to a last minute flood of comments. Interested parties now have until midnight on Friday to share their thoughts with the FCC. An additional round of replies will run until Sept. 10. After that, the FCC will consider everything said before crafting its final rules.

“We have seen an overwhelming surge in traffic on our website that is making it difficult for many people to file comments through our Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS),” the FCC said today. “Please be assured that the Commission is aware of these issues and is committed to making sure that everyone trying to submit comments will have their views entered into the record.”

Among those filing comments were Sen. Al Franken. A vocal supporter of the open Internet, Franken lashed out at the FCC’s early plan to allow businesses and individuals to pay for faster internet speeds in certain circumstances. Franken, along with 12 other senators, are encouraging the FCC to re-classify broadband as a telecom service rather than an information service, which would give the FCC more direct authority over the nation’s Internet service providers.

Reclassification, which is also known as Title II for its placement in the Communications Act, is a highly divisive issue. Both cable and wireless industries are highly opposed to the changes. Getting broadband internet classified as an information service rather than a telecommunications service was such a contentious issue that the fight went all the way to the Supreme Court in 2005. So attempts at reversing that decision will likely cause a similar fight.

The Internet Association was another group to weigh in on net neutrality. This group represents Google, Amazon, Twitter, and more. They are also calling for an open Internet without “fast lanes” for only those who can afford them. The difference is their statement made no mention of re-classification.

Among those opposed to action on net neutrality are Republicans, who have asked the FCC to just leave the issue alone and let the market handle it.

The FCC is also currently accepting comments via email at openinternet@fcc.gov.