Outlook for broadband policy and network neutrality grim

[Commentary] As if the U.S. is not already dangerously behind the rest of the world when it comes to high-speed Internet access, the outlook for a possible remedy has gotten grimmer. This is particularly bitter following a burst of optimism during the first year of the Obama administration. The best laid plans of President Barack Obama and Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski were derailed by an unexpected court ruling in April that questioned whether the FCC had the legal authority to regulate issues related to broadband. That far-reaching conclusion put into doubt whether the FCC can move ahead on its ambitious policy agenda, whose most important parts are a national broadband plan and what's known as network neutrality. What's distressing is that there doesn't appear to be a simple way to move forward. The two avenues for possibly getting things back on track seem to only promise more uncertainty that could stymie progress for years. Let's look at both options and the reasons each leaves me pessimistic.