Tom Wheeler To Exit FCC

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said he will depart the agency after President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in next month.

Wheeler, who was appointed by President Obama three years ago to lead the FCC, announced he intends to leave his post on Jan. 20, 2017.

Wheeler, in a statement, said: “Serving as FCC Chairman during this period of historic technological change has been the greatest honor of my professional life. I am deeply grateful to the President for giving me this opportunity.”

He added, “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.”

I am thankful to have had the chance to work with my fellow Commissioners @MClyburnFCC @JRosenworcel @AjitPaiFCC @MikeOfcc

— Tom Wheeler (@TomWheelerFCC) December 15, 2016

His departure means the FCC will start the Trump administration with a 2-1 Republican majority, allowing the GOP to immediately begin dismantling Obama-era regulations.

While it is customary for FCC chairmen to resign at the start of a new administration, Politico reports Wheeler had for months refused to publicly commit to stepping down when Obama leaves office, angering Republican lawmakers who held up the confirmation of his fellow FCC Democrat, Jessica Rosenworcel. The Senate did not approve Rosenworcel for a new term before it left town for recess last week, and she will have to leave the commission by Jan. 3.

Chief among the GOP targets are Wheeler's net neutrality rules, passed last year, which require internet service providers to treat all web traffic equally. The rules reclassify broadband akin to a utility making it subject to stricter oversight. Republicans called the regulations burdensome on companies, and the telecom industry has sued — so far unsuccessfully — to overturn them.