Net Neutrality Fight Rife With Interests Connected to Commissioners

The two Republican members of the Federal Communications Commission who have asked for a delay in the FCC's Feb 26 vote on net neutrality rules both have past connections to big money interests opposed to the rules. On the other hand, so does FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, whose proposal is on the table. Commissioner Ajit Pai, for his part, used to be a lawyer for Verizon, a company that has been on the front lines fighting FCC net neutrality guidelines in the past. Commissioner Michael O’Reilly’s previous positions were in the public sector, where his bosses were favored recipients of campaign cash by companies opposing the current proposal. Each of the elected officials Commissioner O’Reilly worked for count broadband cable companies among their top 20 donors. But money and past ties don’t always rule the day.

Democratic Chairman Wheeler spent much of his career heading the National Cable and Telecommunications Association and the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association, both of which oppose his current proposal. Chairman Wheeler’s position, though, has evolved -- he was previously in favor of an approach more to the Internet service providers’ liking.