There is a good chance net neutrality regulations might be stopped before they are ever allowed to take effect, according to Republican Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Robert McDowell. Broadcasting & Cable reports:

Republican FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell says he thinks that there is a “better than average chance” that a court, likely the D.C. circuit, will stay the FCC’s network neutrality rules.

That came in an appearance June 29 on Fox News’ online program Power Play with Chris Stirewalt.

McDowell dissented from the rules, which passed in a party line vote Dec. 21, 2010.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Julius Genachowski is a big advocate of net neutrality. The agency is considering implementing rules that would greatly advance this goal.

Opponents have described the effort as a government plan to take over and manage the internet.  However, it seems Genachowski actions are raising questions about the FCC’s ability to regulate with any degree of competence. On Wednesday, Genachowski requested a one-month extension of the deadline for the FCC to formulate a national broadband plan.  Under current law, the FCC is supposed to hand over its national broadband plan to Congress on or before February 17.

According to Colin Cromwell, a senior adviser to Genachowski, the Agency needs more time to:

“fully brief commissioners and key members of Congress, to get additional input from stakeholders, and to fully digest the exhaustive record before the agency”

However, publicly and privately, critics are slamming Genachowski for mismanagement and an apparent inability to get things done on time.  Robert McDowell, a Republican member of the FCC said in a statement this week:

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