 Tom Wheeler |
Federal Communications Commission chairman Tom Wheeler announced yesterday that he plans to step down from his post.
Wheeler’s resignation becomes effective January 20, the day Donald Trump is sworn in as the 45th president.
Wheeler, a former telecommunications lobbyist, was appointed the FCC’s 31st Chairman in 2013, succeeding former chairman Julius Genachowski, who is now stationed at private equity giant The Carlyle Group.
Wheeler, a democrat, was the driving force behind the commission’s landmark 2015 passage of net neutrality rules, which reclassified broadband Internet access service as a telecommunications service under Title II of the Communications Act.
Jessica Rosenworcel, another Democratic commissioner, is set to leave her post in December, leaving Republicans with a 2-1 commissioner majority at the agency after Wheeler's departure in January. President-elect Trump, who will appoint the agency’s new leadership, is now left with the task of filling two vacant FCC seats, which could result in a Republican takeover at the commission, and thus, a rollback of Wheeler’s policies, including the FCC’s 2015 net neutrality ruling. Per the Commission's rules, only three FCC commissioners can be members of the same political party.
FCC commissioner Ajit Pai is expected to be named interim chairman in light of Wheeler’s departure. Pai, a Republican, is also seen as a possible pick for the chairman title.
Prior to becoming the nation’s top telecommunications regulator, Wheeler was managing director at venture capital firm Core Capital Partners. He was also previously president of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association and president and CEO of the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association.
“Serving as F.C.C. Chairman during this period of historic technological change has been the greatest honor of my professional life,” Wheeler said in a statement. “It has been a privilege to work with my fellow Commissioners to help protect consumers, strengthen public safety and cybersecurity, and ensure fast, fair and open networks for all Americans.”
Erik Hotmire has rejoined the Securities and Exchange Commission as chief external affairs officer and director of the Office of Public Affairs.
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Jeffrey Nesbit, who served as communications director for former vice president Dan Quayle, is named assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Health and Human Services.
