AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said lawsuits seeking to prevent the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from pushing forward with its plans to advance net neutrality and protect a free internet are likely in the cards.

He told CNBC that if the FCC sticks to its current position, "there will be litigation". Stephenson said he feels "it's quite certain" a lawsuit is all but certain since there's no indication the FCC will change its mind.

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"We have now, under the president's urging with the FCC, moved from pursuing a free and open Internet to regulating the Internet end to end ... there will be litigation", said Stephenson.

He said litigation will probably be a class action lawsuit filed by AT&T and other internet service providers that will be adversely impacted by the FCC's recent decision to reclassify broadband Internet as a telecom service rather than an information service.

In their lawsuit, ISPs will probably ask for a delay in the implementation of the rules the FCC votes on later this month.

Earlier this month, chairman Tom Wheeler said the FCC will propose a resolution that will reclassify the internet as a utility service under the Title II of the 1934 Communications Act.

This will place the internet into the same category as a power services and give the FCC full authority to regulate the internet so the internet remains free and completely open.

Reclassifying broadband Internet as a telecom service and not an information service will also give the FCC a legal advantage in court cases questioning the plan.

"We've been talking about 'net neutrality' for a long time," Stephenson said, "and net neutrality used to mean preserving a free and open Internet." But now it's moved "to regulating the Internet."

He said he supports a free and open internet that does not include blocking and prioritization but said reclassifying the internet is not the proper way to do it.