On the day Donald Trump will be inaugurated in as President, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler will step down after three years running the agency.
Wheeler will join fellow Democrat Jessica Rosenworcel in exiting the FCC as Trump’s administration takes over. Rosenworcel will exit on January 3 as her term expires and congress has not acted on her reconfirmation. The FCC will have two vacancies with two Republicans and one Democrat remaining. Prior to joining the FCC in 2013, Wheeler was a partner as Core Capital Partners and spent a decade as President/CEO of the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association.
Wheeler released the following statement:
“Serving as F.C.C. 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. 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 cybersecurity, and ensure fast, fair and open networks for all Americans.”