Tom Wheeler, independent agency

[Commentary] Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler’s time as chairman has been marked by concerns of overt partisanship. These concerns stem from the fact that the FCC has seemingly been more partisan under Chairman Wheeler than under the leadership of any other chairman in recent history. And it is fair to say that this commission is more polarized than any other FCC in recent history — and also more polarized than most other federal agencies today.

But this polarization may not have political origins; it may not be about Democrats versus Republicans. Rather, it seems that the chairmanship is one of Chairman Wheeler against the world — that Chairman Wheeler, in his own words, “[is] an independent agency” unto himself. The long-term effects of this leadership style are going to significantly damage the FCC.

[Gus Hurwitz an assistant professor at the University of Nebraska College of Law]