NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - The Federal Communications Commission is close to new rules that could limit choices or raise prices for those getting high-speed Internet access over the telephone lines, according to published reports.

USA Today and The Wall Street Journal report that the commission is close to lifting the requirement that local phone companies open their high speed Internet lines, known as DSL service, to competing Internet service providers, such as Earthlink.

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said last month that he favored such a change. USA Today reported Thursday that Democrats and Republicans on the commission are close to an agreement on new rules, although the paper said no final decision has been reached, and the proposal could still unravel.

The Republicans are looking for the new guidelines to take effect within 6 months, while Democrats want a longer transition, perhaps a year, according to USA Today.

The Journal reported Wednesday that the rules could be voted on as early as Thursday's commission meeting.

Earlier this year, the Supreme Court decided that cable companies did not have to open their cable lines to competing high speed Internet offerings. Martin and others have argued that broadband Internet offerings over cable and DSL lines should be allowed to compete with each other.

The so-called Baby Bells, such as Verizon Communications (Research) and SBC Communications (Research), which control the DSL lines, have argued that they would make more investment in DSL, making broadband more widely available, if they did not have to share the service with competitors.

But USA Today reports that consumer advocates worry the move will lead to fewer choices and higher prices. Independent ISP's such as Earthlink (Research) would have to negotiate new access agreements, likely at a higher cost, to keep providing DSL service over the Baby Bells' lines.

USA Today also reports the FCC is close to no longer requiring phone companies to contribute 10 percent of their DSL revenue to the universal service fund, which subsidizes phone service in rural areas.

The companies would have to continue to pay into the fund during a phase-out period, also possibly six months to a year. After that time, the FCC would increase required contributions from wireless and Internet phone service providers to make up the loss of revenue to the funds.

For what this move could mean to independent Internet service providers like Earthlink, click here.