FCC Chair Wheeler Denies Pressure From White House

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler vehemently denied that the White House strong-armed the agency into passing its recent update to net neutrality rules, which will regulate the Internet more like a utility. Congressional Republicans have called a series of hearings on the new rules, which they claim are the result of improper influence by the Obama Administration. “I did not, as CEO of an independent agency, feel obligated to follow the president’s recommendation,” Wheeler told the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. “But I did feel obligated to treat it with the respect it deserves, just as I have, with similar respect, the input both pro and con from 140 senators and representatives” who filed comments on the rules with the FCC. The agency approved the new rules Feb. 26, on a 3-2 party-line vote.