Wheeler: Net Neutrality Repeal All About Helping Monopolies Former FCC Boss Tom Wheeler isn't particularly impressed with his replacement at the FCC (Ajit Pai), and says the former Verizon lawyer has one real goal in removing net neutrality protections: making life easier on uncompetitive broadband monopolies. Speaking at a forum in Virginia last week (full video), Wheeler was quick to again highlight that three quarters of the United States lacks the choice of more than one broadband provider at speeds greater than 25 Mbps, something that gives them unprecedented power.

"When you've only got one provider, who makes the rules? The provider makes the rules," Wheeler said. With Ajit Pai looking to repeal the popular consumer protections, "the question becomes, will giant companies be able to exploit their monopoly position?" Wheeler said. "Who is going to stand up for consumers? Who is going to stand up for innovation? And who is going to stand up for the most important network for determining our future in the 21st century?" With industry giants and one-time net neutrality allies like Google and Netflix now getting sheepish on the subject as they lobby the Trump administration for favors of their own, small companies, startups, entrepreneurs and consumers are really all that's standing in the way of giant ISP lobbyists this time around. Most of them are participating in a July 12 day of action protecting the FCC's decision, both online and off. "The Trump FCC has announced in no uncertain terms that they intend to repeal the rules that are now in place at the request of these handful of companies," Wheeler said. The former FCC Boss said the FCC "got a letter from 800 entrepreneurs, saying, 'you can't do that because you'll threaten our access, our ability to... reach consumers,'" Wheeler said. "We'll have to go and say, 'mother may I' to get on the networks. We won't be able to compete with the big guys who have deep pockets to pay for your fast lanes. 800 [entrepreneurs] vs. four [ISPs]." While Ajit Pai has made it pretty clear he intends to ignore public comments in support of net neutrality when he votes to kill the rules later this year, Wheeler made it clear that there will be ample chances to shut the effort down via subsequent lawsuits. "The votes are there, Republicans control, they’ve announced they’re going to repeal it, and we the people have to say no, and take it to court,” Wheeler said. "The votes are there, Republicans control, they’ve announced they’re going to repeal it, and we the people have to say no, and take it to court,” Wheeler said.







News Jump California Defends Its Net Neutrality Law; AT&T's Traffic Up 20% Despite Data Traffic Actually Being Down; + more news Are The Comcast-Charter X1 Talks Dead In The Water?; AT&T May Offer Phone Plans With Ads For Discounts; + more news Europe's Top Court: Net Neutrality Rules Bar Zero Rating; ViacomCBS To Rebrand CBS All Access As Paramount+; + more news Verizon To Buy Reseller TracFone For $7B; 5G Not The Competitive Threat To Cable Many Thought It Would Be; + more news MS.Wants Records From AT&T On $300M Project; Google Fiber Outages In Austin, Houston, Other Texan Cities; + more news States With The Biggest Decreases In Speed; AT&T Hopes You'll Forget Its Fight Against Accurate Maps; + more news AT&T's CEO Has A Familiar $olution To US Broadband Woes; EarthLink Files Suit Against Charter; + more news 5G Doesn't Live Up To Hype, AT&T's 5G Slower Than Its 4G; Cord-Cutting Now In 37% of Broadband Households; + more news FCC Cited False Broadband Data Despite Warnings; ZTE, Huawei Replacement Cost Is $1.87B, But Only $1B Allocated; + more Cogeco Rejects Altice USA's Atlantic Broadband Bid; AT&T Is Astroturfing The FCC In Support Of Trump Attack; + more news ---------------------- this week last week most discussed

Most recommended from 46 comments

Goldir

Premium Member

join:2013-05-23

North Platte, NE Calix 844G

19 recommendations Goldir Premium Member Well, at least he is consistent... Chairman Pai has ALWAYS made it no secret that he knows on which side his bread is buttered. That being said, you'd think he could be a little more smooth about it, instead of doing the equivalent of basically having corporate sponsorship stickers sewn into his jacket. Heck, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if an offshore account loaded with millions was waiting to be transferred into his name after his tenure as Chairman ends. THAT is how blatant he is about who he considers to be his REAL boss.



Unfortunately, the only way to beat him is at his own game. His consistency is a strength, but it is also a weakness because it makes him predictable. The members of the commission who don't agree with his actions could probably out play him if they focused on that. Maybe find two different corporations with mutually exclusive interests and force him to choose which one he is going to pander to.

Anon506e4

@teksavvy.com 16 recommendations Anon506e4 Anon Make it a necessity Used to be phones and electricity were considered luxury items, and charged accordingly. Then society matured and they became defacto necessities forcing the gov to step in to control out of control companies.



Same thing has to happen with internet and wireless. As companies try to divorce themselves from wired services (in a totally OBVIOUS attempt to get out from under regulation) all they really change is the medium over which the service is provided, so a wireless phone should come with the same protections as old style landline, and so should VoIP.



Internet needs to become the next necessity, and it's completely obvious the industry isn't interested in doing anything fair for consumers, so at some point people (you the voter) are going to have to start punishing your reps for listening to lobbyists (who usually cannot vote for your rep) and hit them where it really matters to them - job security. Elect reps that actually listen to do and then follow through on the Hill or Senate with the proper votes. Demand accountability, and push for your right to force change.



It's not like you're asking for free service, you still intend to pay, but why should it cost you a days wages for something that costs a pittance in comparison to provide? Why should you have to pay line fees for cable tv and internet and phone, when they all use the exact same line? They should be able to provide free phone for everyone at the rates they've been charging. kinda pissed

join:2012-06-06

Newsoms, VA 6 recommendations kinda pissed Member Of course it was I mean it sure wasn't about helping the consumer.

Anond2fdc

@teksavvy.com 4 recommendations Anond2fdc Anon Let's set this straight It's not about which company has you by the smalls. It's the people owning the stock ultimately at fault for the corporate money management schemes they set up. They don't have to put money first before service quality or customers (whom actually are the point of value the company has to have to even make money) but they do. Because they don't act for long terms, they are always on the short term trying to raise the next dividend or boost that stock another point on the ticker. Customer churn is a direct result of that. dntcndsnd2me

join:2015-09-18

Seneca, WI 2 recommendations dntcndsnd2me Member Yet facebook, google, twitter, and others are guilty of monopoly power. Net neutrality did nothing to stop them from censoring their opposition.