FCC Chairman Wheeler to resign

[fgentges at mindspring.com]

A bit more about the impact of the presidential election.

I am not sure what it means to amateur radio just yet.

Frank K0BRA

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FCC Chairman Wheeler to resign January 20, 2017
December 15, 2016
Author Stephen Hardy
Editorial Director and Associate Publisher

Thomas Wheeler, whose tenure as chairman of the Federal Communications 
Commission (FCC) has drawn sharp criticism from the Republican Party 
that will control the White House and both houses of Congress next year, 
has announced he will resign January 20, 2017.

"Serving as FCC Chairman during this period of historic technological 
change has been the greatest honor of my professional life," said 
Wheeler via a statement posted on the FCC website. "I am deeply grateful 
to the President for giving me this opportunity. I am especially 
thankful to the talented Commission staff for their service and 
sacrifice during my tenure. Their achievements have contributed to a 
thriving communications sector, where robust investment and 
world-leading innovation continue to drive our economy and meaningful 
improvements in the lives of the American people.

"It has been a privilege to work with my fellow Commissioners to help 
protect consumers, strengthen public safety and cyber-security, and 
ensure fast, fair, and open networks for all Americans," Wheeler's 
statement concluded.

Wheeler's aggressive pursuit of those goals, which has included adoption 
of Open Internet/Net Neutrality rules, an attempt to declare invalid 
state laws that restrict the ability of municipalities to build 
broadband networks, and opening the market for set-top boxes, has 
induced the ire of service providers, politicians, and the Republican 
members of the FCC. Many such policies were adopted by a 3-2 vote among 
the FCC commissioners, a group appointed by the President and ratified 
by Congress generally in a configuration that gives the President's 
party a one-seat advantage.

With the victory of President-elect Donald Trump in November's 
elections, the roster of commissioners was expected to change 
significantly next year. Wheeler's resignation and the foundering in 
Congress of Democratic Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel's nomination for 
a new term mean there could be only three commissioners in place by the 
end of January: Republicans Michael O'Rielly and Ajit Pai and Democrat 
Mignon Clyburn. Pai's name has been floated in the media as a potential 
replacement for Wheeler.

However the FCC is configured once the occupant of the White House 
changes, many of Wheeler's policy initiatives are expected to be either 
scaled back or reversed completely. The Open Internet/Net Neutrality 
initiative appears to be high on hit list, press outlets speculate.