Will FCC Lock-in Net Neutrality Gains in Legislation or Risk All in Court & Ballot Box?

[Commentary] The appellate process will only get tougher for the Federal Communications Commission’s Title II Open Internet Order from here, which means both legal and electoral uncertainty over the permanence of the FCC’s network neutrality authority will only grow as the appellate process plays out and the 2016 Presidential election approaches. Simply, do the FCC and its congressional supporters essentially cash in and keep their net neutrality gains long term for consumers in bipartisan net neutrality legislation now, or do they double down by waiting and maybe losing it all in either the Supreme Court or the 2016 Presidential election? Bipartisan congressional legislation is the only path to a permanent net neutrality solution here for consumers, and the clock is ticking.

[Scott Cleland is President of Precursor LLC, a research consultancy for Fortune 500 companies]