Q&A: Former FCC Chair Tom Wheeler Says It's Time for More Regulation of Big Tech

He spoke with Adweek about net neutrality, tech regulation and media history

As chairman of President Obama’s Federal Communications Commission, Tom Wheeler did much to dispute late-night host John Oliver’s memorable characterization of his revolving-door appointment as “the equivalent of needing a babysitter and hiring a dingo.”

His tenure at the agency saw the passage of strong net neutrality rules, broadband privacy protections and other pro-consumer reforms, most of which were subsequently dismantled by the Trump administration and a Republican-controlled Congress.

But Wheeler is optimistic net neutrality rules will eventually be solidified into law as well as privacy-focused regulation of Facebook, Google and other tech giants—an industry over which the FCC doesn’t have much jurisdiction but Wheeler had nonetheless hoped to influence.

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