FCC Boss Says He's a 'Happy Comcast Customer' FCC boss Tom Wheeler took a bit of a beating this week at the cable industry's annual INTX show in Boston this week. That shouldn't come as a surprise; the FCC boss has spent the last year doing something uncharacteristic at the FCC: trying to help consumers. From new net neutrality rules and a higher 25 Mbps definition of broadband, to plans for new consumer broadband privacy rules and additional set top box competition -- the FCC is arguably doing its job for the first time in fifteen years.

"What has been so distressing is that much of this regulatory ordinance has been launched without provocation," claimed cable industry lobbyist (and former FCC boss) Michael Powell this week. "We increasingly are saddled with heavy rules without any compelling evidence of harm to consumers or competitors." But Wheeler obviously doesn't see things that way. In his own speech at the show the FCC boss defended his actions to a crowd of cable industry employees, executives, and lobbyists. "If anybody understands the reality of a job like Michael's, I do," said Wheeler, who was a former lobbyist for the wireless and cable industry. That a former lobbyist wound up being one of the most pro-consumer FCC bosses in agency history surprised more than a few people. But Wheeler also made it clear that revolving door lobbyists like Powell, who headed the FCC from 2001 to 2005, were historically part of the problem. "Those who did not want things to change used government to maintain the status quo to the detriment of consumers, and so the philosophy that I developed coming out of [the NCTA] is that the job of government is to promote competition and to let consumers enjoy the benefits of that—with the full understanding that those who are the incumbents never like change," Wheeler said in his speech at the show. "I am a happy Comcast subscriber in Washington, DC," said Wheeler, and a "happy Atlantic Broadband subscriber in Oxford, Maryland," where Wheeler and his wife have a second home. But the agency boss also stated that the FCC's job is about "government promoting competition and stepping out of the way when there is competition," he added. The volume of work Wheeler has been doing speaks volumes to just what level of competition the cable industry enjoys. Granted with two homes, Wheeler's likely not really feeling the high prices the lack of competition brings. Reports a few years ago also indicated Comcast operates a The volume of work Wheeler has been doing speaks volumes to just what level of competition the cable industry enjoys. Granted with two homes, Wheeler's likely not really feeling the high prices the lack of competition brings. Reports a few years ago also indicated Comcast operates a VIP list of important customers that get a little extra attention than the rest of us plebeians, meaning Wheeler's "happy" experience isn't in line with the majority of the company's customers.







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Most recommended from 21 comments

tpkatl

join:2009-11-16

Dacula, GA 24 recommendations tpkatl Member Does Wheeler get VIP treatment? My guess is that Wheeler is on some VIP list at Comcast, and that someone is assigned to make sure that his cable and internet service are always in tip-top shape. Comcast would be remiss if they didn't keep an influential (key) guy happy.



So it's a bit disingenuous for Wheeler to say that 'he's a happy customer'. It's because he is treated differently than you or me.

imanogre

join:2005-11-29

Smyrna, GA 23 recommendations imanogre Member About time The more I read about this guy, the more I like. And I'm pro small government. I wish more of our leaders actually cared about their jobs, instead of pandering for money, votes, prestige.

cypherstream

MVM

join:2004-12-02

Reading, PA 6 recommendations cypherstream MVM I like this guy I really like Tom. I think he's doing all the right things and trying to be fair for consumers. Upgrading the definition of broadband is a good thing.



He's far better than that where's Waldo guy we had a decade ago.