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Two Democrats on the Federal Communications Commission indicated they have serious concerns about Chairman Tom Wheeler's net neutrality proposal, casting doubt on his ability to start considering the plan next week.

The comments by Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel came as Amazon, Google, Facebook and Yahoo led a group of about 150 online companies in writing to the FCC on Wednesday saying Wheeler's proposal to allow broadband providers to charge for faster delivery of content posed "a grave threat to the Internet."

With the two Republicans on the five-person agency opposed to enacting new net neutrality rules, Wheeler needs the votes of his fellow Democrats to move his plan forward.

An FCC spokesman said Wednesday that Wheeler intended to push ahead with his proposal.

Wheeler angered liberals and public interest groups last month when he unveiled details of his attempt to reestablish rules for Internet traffic after a federal court ruling overturned the agency's 2010 regulations.

Critics complained Wheeler was backtracking on the FCC's longstanding view that all legal online content should be treated equally and phone and cable companies shouldn't be allowed to create high-speed toll lanes on the Internet.

Such pay-for-priority arrangements would lead to higher prices for consumers, the critics said.

On Wednesday, Rosenworcel called on Wheeler to postpone a planned May 15 vote that would begin the formal rulemaking process. She asked for a delay of at least a month because she has "real concerns" about his proposal and wants to allow more time for public comment.

"His proposal has unleashed a torrent of public response. Tens of thousands of e-mails, hundreds of calls, commentary all across the Internet," Rosenworcel said in a speech to a meeting of the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies in Washington.

"We need to respect that input and we need time for that input," she said.

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Two FCC Democrats raise concerns about net neutrality proposal