Techdirt Podcast Episode 145: Tom Wheeler Reacts To Trump's FCC

from the special-guests dept

If you're a Techdirt reader or just a general regular on the ol' internet, our topic this week — the current situation with net neutrality and the FCC — needs little introduction. And we've got two very special guests joining us to discuss it: former FCC Chair Tom Wheeler (author of the rules that Ajit Pai is currently undoing) and his former advisor Gigi Sohn (who joined us on the podcast in February to predict pretty much exactly what is now happening). There are few people as qualified to talk about these issues, so enjoy this week's episode looking at Trump's FCC and the future of the internet as we know it.

Follow the Techdirt Podcast on Soundcloud, subscribe via iTunes or Google Play, or grab the RSS feed. You can also keep up with all the latest episodes right here on Techdirt.

Hide this

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

Filed Under: ajit pai, donald trump, fcc, gigi sohn, net neutrality, podcast, tom wheeler


Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread


  • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
    icon
    Richard Bennett (profile), 28 Nov 2017 @ 1:58pm

    Respect My Authoritah!!!

    Wheeler sounds more like Eric Cartman every day.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Baron von Robber, 28 Nov 2017 @ 2:09pm

      Re: Respect My Authoritah!!!

      You sound more like an apology letter from the condom company every day.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Mike Masnick (profile), 28 Nov 2017 @ 3:38pm

      Re: Respect My Authoritah!!!

      Funny. I've now relistened to the podcast, and I don't hear him suggesting that at all. Indeed, I hear him discuss the research and studies that they did that show why the order they made was good for the public, and provided a better internet for everyone -- and how Pai's order... doesn't.

      Meanwhile, just a few hours ago you told me that I was responsible for death threats to Pai's family because I showed where Pai was wrong (while similarly telling people not to attack Pai personally). You responded that your comments were "moderate" and fair. And, yet, now here you are, not even 24 hours later, insulting former chair Pai with a false ad hominem.

      Funny that.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 28 Nov 2017 @ 2:59pm

    It's Ajit Pai's FCC, not "Trumps"....

    Ajit Pai and Trump are no more one and the same than you are your mama. It's painfully obvious that you are simply using anything and everything you can to bash Trump any chance you can as you have ever since he ran for office. I don't even like Trump, yet I can see that's exactly what you're doing.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      That One Guy (profile), 28 Nov 2017 @ 9:41pm

      Re: It's Ajit Pai's FCC, not "Trumps"....

      Out of curiosity would you happen to know who decided to give Pai the position of head of the FCC, and as such played a significant role in how it would act for the foreseeable future? The name is just on the edge of my mind but refuses to solidify, I was hoping you'd be able to help out there if you could.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Mike Masnick (profile), 28 Nov 2017 @ 11:17pm

      Re: It's Ajit Pai's FCC, not "Trumps"....

      It's a reference to what Tom Wheeler refers to in the podcast, not our own framing. You did listen to it first before complaining, right?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 28 Nov 2017 @ 11:19pm

      Re: It's Ajit Pai's FCC, not "Trumps"....

      Dude, the president is a narcissistic lunatic with the ego of a nine-year-old and an intellect to match. Every day the internet is replete with discussion of his history of sexual abuse, his stunning incompetence on the highest matters of state, his flagrant conflicts of interest - oh and a widespread criminal investigation into all his friends and allies.

      So what I'm saying is, a tech blog offhandedly using the common parlance of referring to any federal agency as [President]'s [Agency] is not your or Trump's biggest problem. And, uh, it's certainly not "using everything it can"...

      link to this | view in chronology ]


Follow Techdirt
Essential Reading
Techdirt Deals
Report this ad  |  Hide Techdirt ads
Techdirt Insider Discord

The latest chatter on the Techdirt Insider Discord channel...

Loading...
Recent Stories

This site, like most other sites on the web, uses cookies. For more information, see our privacy policy. Got it
Close

Email This

This feature is only available to registered users. Register or sign in to use it.