FCC Chairman Wheeler Meets with Public Interest Groups

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler met with public interest groups to talk about his agency plans including his pledge of support for an open Internet.

The meeting was described by attendee Harold Feld of Public Knowledge as a good, frank discussion but long on high-level generality and short on specifics. Several of the public interest group representatives brought up key issues they want the FCC to be mindful of, including diversity, a request that Wheeler get out of Washington more often, and, for Feld's part, concerns about making data more available, particularly on mergers. Chairman Wheeler recognized that the FCC needs to collect more data to know what was going on in the industry, in particular with regard to minority ownership, said one attendee. He said that was something the agency needed to focus on. He said he wanted to make sure of diversity not only in the media context, but in the IP transition to insure that the minority communities are not passed by. Chairman Wheeler acknowledged that there were some in the group who were doubtful of his credentials as a regulator who would put consumers first -- he is a former lobbyist for the cable and wireless industries. But he said it was important for him to recognize that competition sometime requires regulation to promote it. He remembered when he had been on the opposite side of the desk from the chairman trying to make his case. He said he was interested in pragmatic results, signaled that his approach would be to try and get industry to move voluntarily but recognizing that that "was not always going to happen."

Others present included representatives of Free Press, the Benton Foundation, Consumers Union, the Consumer Federation of America, the Minority Media & Telecommunications Council, The Leadership Council on Civil Rights, the United Church of Christ, and the NAACP.