The push for any meaningful network neutrality consumer protections is essentially dead, with the remaining partisan bickering over killing off already fairly-hollow and loophole-filled FCC rules being little more than twitching and showmanship for constituents. The neutrality rules the FCC has been cooking up have countless, intentional glaring holes including a failure to cover wireless networks, and were effectively crafted with little serious consumer input.

Last Friday the Federal Communications Commission sent its net neutrality rules to the Federal Register for publication. Official publication of the rules by the Federal Register usually takes anywhere between one to three weeks, after which sixty days must pass for the rules to become official.

Over the next few months you can expect companies like Verizon to file suit against the FCC. Verizon tried to sue the agency earlier, but their lawyers were slapped down for being a bit premature and over eager. Given that the rules the FCC is passing are essentially based on guidelines proposed by Verizon and Google, Verizon isn't opposed to the specific rules -- but they do want to ensure the FCC has little to no long-term authority.

"We are deeply concerned by the FCC's assertion of broad authority for sweeping new regulation of broadband networks and the Internet itself," Verizon said after their initial lawsuit. "We believe this assertion of authority goes well beyond any authority provided by Congress, and creates uncertainty for the communications industry, innovators, investors and consumers."