How Did An Idea That Seemed Like A Long Shot Win The Net Neutrality Debate?

[Commentary] To the disappointment of many network neutrality advocates, the Federal Communications Commission’s first cut at its proposed rules -- leaked in April by the Wall Street Journal -- didn’t embrace Title II. Instead, the FCC returned to the portion of the Communications Act rejected by the courts. As the leaked proposal horrified net neutrality proponents, it also served as rallying cry, helping to coalesce a diverse set of advocates with different interests, missions, and organizational structures into a formidable coalition.

Within weeks, this group combined non-profit groups like Free Press and Public Knowledge with a bevy of Internet heavyweights like Netflix and smaller, midsized web-based businesses like Etsy. Academic think-leaders like Columbia Law School’s Tim Wu rounded out the group. Soon, this core group of institutions and individuals swelled as organizations like the ACLU, which hadn’t focused much on net neutrality, joined the effort. This ad hoc coalition mobilized one of the most successful advocacy campaigns seen in recent years.