Net neutrality ally Wheeler to quit FCC
Federal Communications Commission chair Tom Wheeler, who passed important rules on net neutrality during his three-year tenure, will step down from the agency next month.
In a statement released Thursday, Wheeler says he will depart from the FCC effective January 20.
"Serving as FCC Chairman during this period of historic technological change has been the greatest honor of my professional life," said Wheeler in a statement. "I am deeply grateful to the President for giving me this opportunity."
Wheeler was named FCC chair in 2013. One year later, he helped pass rules on net neutrality, which require Internet service providers to treat all content on the web equally.
However, those rules could be in jeopardy when President-elect Donald Trump takes office. In a tweet in 2014, Trump called the FCC's adoption of Net neutrality rules a "power grab" by President Obama.
Wheeler also attempted to push rules transforming how consumers could watch cable. The rules would have required TV service providers to create apps allowing consumers to view programming without the need for a traditional set-top box.
The FCC was expected to vote on the measure in September, but it was pulled from the agenda for future consideration. The FCC chair is appointed by the president and typically offers their resignation upon a change in the administration. But Wheeler's departure is viewed as sooner than expected.
During his tenure, the commission had many issues that were passed 3-2 with Wheeler and the other two Democrats on the commission, Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel, carrying the vote. Since the election, many main issues such as the opening of pay-TV settop boxes have been removed from the agency's agenda until Trump has his say on a new chairman.
Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23.