It won't be a surprise if the Federal Communications Commission gets sued when it issues net neutrality rules. In fact, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler expects it.

Since November 10, when President Obama called on the FCC to reclassify Internet service as a utility and impose strict net neutrality rules, the FCC has been urged to act quickly. But it appears the commission won't issue final rules before the end of 2014. When reporters today asked Wheeler when he'll act, he said he's taking his time because he wants to make sure the commission's net neutrality rules aren't overturned in court.

"We are going to be sued," he said in a Q&A after the FCC's monthly meeting. "That's the history. Every time in this whole discussion any time the commission has moved to do something, one of the big dogs has gone to sue... We don’t want to ignore history. We want to come out with good rules that accomplish what we need to accomplish, an open Internet, no blocking, no throttling, no fast lanes, no discrimination, and we want those rules to be in place after a court decision. So we want to be sure we’re thoughtful in the way in which we structure them and we're thoughtful in the way we present what will ultimately be presented to a court."

Verizon sued to block rules passed under Wheeler's predecessor, Julius Genachowski, and has already threatened to sue the FCC over new rules under consideration. AT&T has threatened to sue as well.

Verizon won a court decision overturning the previous restrictions on blocking and discrimination against Internet traffic in January. The federal appeals court said the FCC erred by imposing common carrier obligations on broadband providers without declaring them to be utilities. Consumer advocates and President Obama have argued that the FCC must reclassify broadband in order to impose rules similar to the ones that were vacated.

Wheeler said after Obama's statement that the FCC "will incorporate the President’s submission into the record of the Open Internet proceeding," but he noted that the FCC is an independent agency and does not have to do what the president requests.

One reporter asked Wheeler today if he has been in touch with Obama since the president's comments on net neutrality. Wheeler answered, "No."