Headline-dominating issues such as Ebola and ISIL have commandeered most ­campaign conversations during the waning days of the race between U.S. Sen. Al Franken and his ­Republican challenger, Mike ­McFadden.

All but forgotten? Franken's ­crusade for continued free and open access to the Internet, more ­commonly known as net neutrality.

The Federal Communications Commission's proposed new Internet access rules could include fast and slow broadband lanes, with Internet service providers being able to charge content providers for the "fast-lane" service.

Franken believes only deep-­pocketed corporations could afford to pay for a fast lane, and he believes that would stunt the growth of innovative start-ups.

Franken points to YouTube, the ubiquitous video-sharing site begun by three programmers nearly a decade ago that later sold to Google for $1.6 billion. If net neutrality didn't exist, neither would YouTube. ­Franken said.

McFadden has largely ignored net neutrality, saying he prefers to focus on pressing issues like national security and the economy.

Franken, who said he gets asked about net neutrality "all the time," counters that those issues rely on an open Internet, as do many others. He points to a pair of Minnesota-based start-ups, Sport Ngin, which develops sports websites and league-­management apps, and ThisCLICKS, which creates employment-scheduling ­software. Both grew from ideas into innovative companies that employ hundreds and contribute to the economy. The FCC has received nearly 4 million public comments about its proposed policy, including one from the senator himself.

"This is about a top-down ­economy, which is controlled by deep-pocketed corporations, as opposed to what we've had in place, which has ­created a tremendous amount of economic prosperity but is much more ­democratic, and much more about individual innovation," he said. "It's creating Facebook in your dorm room. This would squelch your ability to do that."

McFadden, however, said that in the wake of ISIL beheadings, the spread of Ebola and terror ­recruitment at home, net neutrality should take a back seat during this campaign.

"Senator Franken is focused on things like net neutrality and Time Warner mergers," said McFadden. "You know how many times I've been asked about these issues in 16 months on the trail? Zero. Zero times."

The FCC will eventually make a decision on net neutrality after reviewing the public comments. Should a two-tier system be approved, Franken has proposed a bill that would block it.

"If you're focused on jobs, on prosperity, you have to be in the 21st ­century," he said. "This is an enormous part of the 21st century ­economy."