Everyone claims to be for an open internet. So what’s the latest net neutrality fight really about?

The period of public comment on the network neutrality rule will close in mid-August, and the Federal Communications Commission could take a vote on a final decision as early as October. According to Sen Al Franken (D-MN), the strategy is to gin up so much negative public opinion that it pressures one of the Republican commissioners on the FCC board to change their mind, which would scuttle the policy change. If that fails, a court challenge is all but inevitable.

If the change does ultimately stand, some, like University of Minnesota professor Soumya Sen, are cautioning open internet advocates that not all is lost. He argues the principles of net neutrality can still be protected even without the current Title II protections — and that they could even be better protected under a different scheme. Thanks to market forces and public opinion, Sen suggests that ISPs won’t immediately move to make the draconian changes that some are expecting. He cited the example of widespread anger from consumers after Verizon and AT&T terminated their unlimited data plans, an unpopular move that both companies later reversed. “If there are changes, I think they will be gradual,” Sen said. “They will test the waters and see how the consumers react to them.”