FCC’s Wheeler Warms Up to Obama’s Wishes on Net Neutrality

Tom Wheeler, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, hinted on Wednesday that forthcoming rules will reclassify broadband Internet service as a public utility. The FCC’s approach to this issue has been the subject of much speculation and hand-wringing among tech policy circles in the past year, with the primary question being whether Wheeler would reclassify broadband service under Title II of the Communications Act. While he didn’t explicitly say this would be his approach, Wheeler’s comments at the Consumer Electronics Show are the strongest indication yet that he will do so.

Internet service providers have claimed that reclassification under Title II would dry up investment in the Internet. As recently as early 2014, there seemed to be little chance this would actually happen. But the outlines of the debate on the issue have steadily shifted, culminating in President Obama’s call in November for the “strongest possible rules” under Title II.