Why Obama waited so long to take a stand on network neutrality

[Commentary] Why didn't President Barack Obama speak more plainly about network neutrality, and sooner? And how much will he be able to move the needle at the Federal Communications Commission?

Had President Obama come out a few months ago calling for rigorous regulation of Internet providers under Title II of the Communications Act, it could have been a disaster for any number of reasons.

• First is that technology generally -- and net neutrality, in particular -- is not a winning political issue.
• Second, President Obama was toxic to Democrats this cycle. Candidates did as much as they could to disassociate themselves from the White House, given Obama's low approval ratings. If the President had promised voters magical flying ponies, his fellow party members would have run the other way. At best, Obama's strong position on net neutrality would've been ignored. At worst, the sight of Democrats fleeing from the policy (for purely political reasons) would have undermined the proposal.
• Thirdly, Obama's net neutrality statement would have drawn instant backlash from a Republican Party eager to pillory an unpopular president. As for why President Obama chose right after the midterms to drop his net neutrality statement: Remember that time is ticking at the FCC to make a decision.