On October 29, 2013, Tom Wheeler was announced as the new Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
For three decades, Wheeler has been at the forefront of telecommunications. He was instrumental in developing an unprecedented union between the U.S. Government and industry providers in opposing International Telecommunications Union from encouraging countries to wall off the Internet for their citizens. Also, Mr. Wheeler was instrumental in procuring basic telecommunications when the disastrous earthquake hit Haiti.
He is a former CEO of the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association (CTIA) and President of the National Cable Television Association (NCTA), among with multiple other companies in the telecommunication industry. For several years, Wheeler was the chief lobbyist for both the mobile and cable industries. Since 2005, Wheeler has been the Managing Director of Core Capital Partners, a venture capital firm that targets the telecommunication industry.
Wheeler is well versed in understanding the telecommunications industry and has a vision for the future of broadband and telecommunications. His three main objectives are to promote economic development, to maintain the historic compact between networks and users and lastly, to make networks work for everyone. (https://www.fcc.gov/blog/201311)
As an investor of technological start-up companies, Wheeler encourages competition. He describes himself as“an unabashed supporter of competition because competitive markets produce better outcomes than regulated or uncompetitive markets.”
Ultimately, Wheeler views the FCC as the “Optimism Agency” of the federal government. With innovation at the forefront and using broadband to look to the future, Wheeler wants to take our country and its people forward in the 21st century.