WASHINGTON (AP) - The D.C. Council has approved a bill that would allow a popular smartphone-dispatched sedan service to continue operating much as it has been in the city.

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The council's attempts to regulate Uber had been met with resistance from the company's CEO and many customers. CEO Travis Kalanick criticized lawmakers at a hearing, saying they were trying to stifle innovation and protect the taxi industry from competition.

Ultimately, the council crafted sedan-service regulations that will change little for Uber. It does not regulate the company's price structure, allowing it to continue to price its rides based on demand.

The bill requires that all sedan-service drivers and vehicles be licensed. And it includes protection for riders against discrimination while allowing drivers to continue rating their passengers. It was approved unanimously on Tuesday.