Tom Wheeler will ask a simple question: “What has happened in the past two years to justify a 180-degree reversal of Open Internet policy?” And his answer, “Nothing”. He will lay out the continuing case for an Open Internet, based on law and facts: protecting consumers and innovators; safeguarding free expression and economic opportunity; learning the lessons of the past; and anticipating the importance of future developments, like the Internet of Things.
This event has ended.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), under the leadership of Chairman Tom Wheeler (2013-2017), adopted, and then successfully defended in court, Open Internet rules to ensure that consumers are free to access and share the information and services of their choosing on the Internet. These net neutrality rules allow innovators and entrepreneurs to develop and distribute their products and services without asking for permission from Internet service providers (ISPs) who are now barred from blocking or impairing digital communications—or creating special "fast lanes" for content and services they own or favor.
The Wheeler FCC was the first to root Open Internet rules on the strongest legal framework, Title II of the Communications Act, giving the rules the solid legal foundation needed to ensure that broadband providers don’t use their gatekeeper power over pathways to the Internet to decide which Internet-based companies will succeed – and which will not.
But now, the President, the Congress, and the new FCC Chairman have proposed rolling back these Net Neutrality rules —and their fate will once again end up being decided by the strongest arguments in a court of law.
About Tom Wheeler
Tom Wheeler is a businessman, author, and was Chairman of the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) from 2013 to 2017.
For over four decades, Wheeler has been involved with new telecommunications networks and services. At the FCC, he led the efforts that resulted in the adoption of Net Neutrality, privacy protections for consumers, and increased cybersecurity, among other policies. His chairmanship has been described as “The most productive Commission in the history of the agency.” During the Obama-Biden Transition of 2008-09, Mr. Wheeler led activities overseeing the agencies of government dealing with science, technology, space, and the arts.
As an entrepreneur, he started or helped start multiple companies offering innovative cable, wireless, and video communications services. He is the only person to be selected to both the Cable Television Hall of Fame and the Wireless Hall of Fame, a fact President Obama joked made him “the Bo Jackson of telecom.”
Prior to being appointed Chairman of the FCC by President Obama, Wheeler was Managing Director at Core Capital Partners, a venture capital firm investing in early stage Internet Protocol (IP)-based companies. He is CEO of the Shiloh Group, a strategy development and private investment company specializing in telecommunications services. He co-founded SmartBrief, the Internet’s largest curated information service for vertical markets.
From 1976 to 1984, Wheeler was associated with the National Cable Television Association (NCTA) where he was President and CEO from 1979 to 1984. Following NCTA, Wheeler was CEO of several high-tech companies, including the first company to offer high-speed delivery to home computers and the first digital video satellite service. From 1992 to 2004, Wheeler served as President and CEO of the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA).
Wheeler has written two books and his commentaries on current events have been published in the New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, and numerous other leading publications.
He is currently at Brookings as a Visiting Fellow, Governance Studies, Center for Technology Innovation.
