CEO DATELINE - Former association CEO Wheeler leaving FCC
CEO DATELINE - Former association CEO Wheeler leaving FCC
- December 16, 2016 |
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Walt Williams
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Tom Wheeler, who led two of the nation's largest communications industry associations, announced Thursday that he will resign as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission on Jan. 20, 2017.
In a statement, Wheeler provided no reason for his departure. President Barack Obama appointed him chairman of the FCC in 2013 in a move criticized by consumer advocates, who noted Wheeler has previously been a top lobbyist for the industries he was expected to regulate. He previously was CEO of both the National Cable Television Association (now NCTA-The Internet & Cable Association) and CTIA, which represents wireless cell phone providers.
However, Wheeler proved something of a thorn in the side of the groups he once led. He helped guide the passage of net neutrality rules opposed by cell phone companies and internet providers but backed by Internet-based businesses such as Google and Netflix. Current NCTA CEO Michael Powell did not mention that dispute and other policy differences in a statement thanking Wheeler for his service.
"Chairman Wheeler's mantra from the beginning of his tenure has been ‘competition, competition, competition' and he should be proud that American consumers are enjoying the benefits of today's vibrant and highly competitive video and broadband sectors," Powell said.
American Cable Association CEO Matthew Polka also commended Wheeler for his leadership of FCC, although he acknowledged "we did not see eye to eye on some very big issues."
"The decision not to fully address the broken retransmission consent regime was a disappointment," Polka said. "But under Chairman Wheeler's direction, the FCC did take some key steps to curb TV stations' abuse of their regulatory advantages over smaller multichannel video programming distributors."
CTIA had not issued a statement as of Friday morning.
Wheeler's departure is expected to steer the FCC back to Republican control now that President-elect Donald Trump will choose commission members. The Obama administration's net neutrality rules are among the policies Trump and congressional Republicans are likely to overturn once in office.
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