Can I wait to research Resistance Communications

[Augerboy]

This is my first time playing Xcom 2, and so far it seems like I'm still somewhat in the tutorial stage of the game. I've got the option to research the resistance communications so I can do the black site mission.
So I'm curious, am I able to ignore it for awhile and either research and excavate others stuff first, so as to get as prepared as possible before continuing the story or are there consequences for messing about. As in does the game continue progressing whether I research this or is the rest of the game basically on pause till I complete this?
Since it seems like its still tutorial territory I thought they might avoid consequences or really starting the game till immediately after.

[Gongoman]

Researching Resistance Communications won't immediately throw you into the blacksite mission, however it will give you access to making contact with other regions, which will greatly boost your monthly revenue AND give you access to more choices for Guerrilla Ops. I recommend that you research the Coms after you research modular weapons and vests, as being able to pick which Dark Event to stop will be a MAJOR help early game.

To access the blacksite mission, you need to research the coms and then make contact with the region the site is in, which takes around 80 intel to do.

[gruetoo]

and after making contact with the region, you have to manually activate the mission, so there will be no surprise.

[Amanoob105]

The only penalty to "messing about" is if you allow the red bar at the top of the map screen to hit full (and let the countdown that follows to hit 0:00). While most story objectives can help put it back down it's not the only way to do this, so you do have a fair level of freedom if you want to take your time getting there.

A word of warning if you did start the game with the tutorial turned on. While it's good for some extra story, it's horrible for trying to play the game as it will gimp your early gameplay heavily in order to "teach" you some very basic things. Several of which come under the confusing heading of "what NOT to do in combat".
There's an irony in there somewhere that this (and the Xcom before it) game's tutorial makes the early game harder than it would normally be .

Early game your one of your best friends in the flashbang. Always try to have one on someone in the squad and then have them act last in a turn while holding back one or two tiles further from the enemy than the rest of your squad as a "panic button".
These thing have saved my squads lives more times than I can count.

Finally, a small tip about research. Better weapons > better armor. Better armor may help your people survive when shot at, but better weapons means they can stop getting shot at in the first place sooner.

[Crypto Gamer]

My tip is to hold the black site untill you have at least tier 2 weapons and tier 2 armor with 6 men.
It has a few scripted spawns regardless of force level+2 reinforcement dropship waves.
AFAIK it will always have chosen guarding it too,unless he is dead via chamber kill.

Only do primary mission when the avatar project is already counting down(all 12 block are filled) or when you are already mopping up the game.In WOTC timer is easier to manage.

Both Xcom 1 and Xcom 2 tutorial makes the game harder(bad timings) for semi decent players.........and limits options.......Only do it once for the story.....
Xcom 1 long tutorial is even worse as it acatullay teaches bad playing habits........

As above weapons>armor just like in X1.
Blacksite region is always good to get second region it never has a new chosen guarding it.