Gosh, Perhaps Next Time Don't Appoint a Lobbyist to Run the FCC? OP/ED: The FCC spent most of today engaged in damage control over the news that the agency's new net neutrality rules will vacillate somewhere between useless and incredibly harmful, in that they may actually codify and protect anti-competitive behavior for major ISPs. A Blog post by FCC boss Tom Wheeler lamenting "misinformation" and a morning conference call with reporters did nothing to quell public and media annoyance that once again -- an agency tasked with protecting consumers appears to be entirely spineless.

Of course back when Wheeler's appointment was announced, the writing was pretty clearly on the wall . Companies like AT&T called the Wheeler appointment "inspired." The cable industry's biggest lobbying organization called the Wheeler pick "exceptional." While that's no surprise, people who should have opposed appointing a former cable and wireless lobbyist to lead the agency instead supported Wheeler's nomination. While Susan Crawford has done a phenomenal job bringing attention to the lack of broadband competition, she supported the Wheeler pick in a letter to Obama, downplaying Wheeler's significant ties to the industries he would soon regulate. Consumer group Public Knowledge, with a similarly stellar reputation on consumer issues, also nearly gushed about the Wheeler pick almost exactly one year ago today. Stated then President Gigi Sohn at the time: quote: “As someone who has known Tom for years, I believe that he will be an independent, proactive Chairman who will not allow the FCC to become irrelevant as broadband becomes the dominant mode of communication in this country. I also expect that he will carry out the President’s communications policy agenda, which includes strong open Internet requirements, robust broadband competition, affordable broadband access for all Americans, diversity of voices and serious consumer protections, all backed by vigorous agency enforcement. Some have expressed concern about Tom’s past history as the head of two industry trade associations. But his past positions should be seen in light of the times and in the context of his other important experiences and engagement with policy." Or not? Sohn left Public Knowledge to go work at the FCC under Wheeler. We're now stuck with yet another FCC boss without the intestinal fortitude to stand up for consumers when necessary, instead hiding his blistering support of the status quo behind a flurry of often meaningless, ambiguous rhetoric and Or not? Sohn left Public Knowledge to go work at the FCC under Wheeler. We're now stuck with yet another FCC boss without the intestinal fortitude to stand up for consumers when necessary, instead hiding his blistering support of the status quo behind a flurry of often meaningless, ambiguous rhetoric and civil war analogies . Supporters tried to argue Wheeler, by all accounts a nice gentleman, could somehow spend an entire life lobbying for industry then magically become a consumer champion willing to fight powerful campaign contributors. They were wrong. Wheeler's neutrality stumble comes the same week former FCC Commissioner Merideth Atwell Baker (who supported the Comcast NBC merger right before heading to Comcast) announced she'll be leaving Comcast to head the wireless industry's top lobbying group, the CTIA. That's after former FCC boss Michael Powell became the head of the NCTA, the cable industry's top lobbying organization. Wheeler has held both positions. How many lobbyists do we need to appoint to regulatory agencies before we realize it's a bad idea and formulate some kind of firewall? 7,214? 8,217? It might be useful to know the precise number so consumers have a rough estimate for an end date to decades of getting repeatedly screwed across countless industries. That said, the rotund woman has not quite sung. The FCC's new, flimsy net neutrality rules will have an open public comment session during which time you can give your input (which will probably be promptly ignored, but it might make you feel better). Interested individuals can also call their Senators and Representatives and demand they support the classification of broadband as a "Title II telecommunications service" under the Communications Act. You can also send a message to Tom Wheeler himself via That said, the rotund woman has not quite sung. The FCC's new, flimsy net neutrality rules will have an open public comment session during which time you can give your input (which will probably be promptly ignored, but it might make you feel better). Interested individuals can also call their Senators and Representatives and demand they support the classification of broadband as a "Title II telecommunications service" under the Communications Act. You can also send a message to Tom Wheeler himself via the agency's website







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