--- title: FCC Chairman Wants to Diverge From Obama's Net Neutrality Plan description: The Federal Communications Commission says it wants to go in a different direction to Obama over net neutrality regulations. canonical: https://time.com/3580455/fcc-chairman-obama-net-neutrality-conflict/ author: Helen Regan article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-11-12T09:44:48.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T08:02:42.779Z article:section: Politics og:title: FCC Faces Off With Obama Over Net Neutrality og:description: Trouble is brewing over how we get online og:url: https://time.com/3580455/fcc-chairman-obama-net-neutrality-conflict/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt6c9a9ce342d309ba/698768505f570f8b04b13836/obama-internet-potent_wong.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 4000 og:image:height: 2250 og:image:alt: Barack Obama, Tom Wheeler og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: FCC Faces Off With Obama Over Net Neutrality twitter:description: Trouble is brewing over how we get online twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt6c9a9ce342d309ba/698768505f570f8b04b13836/obama-internet-potent_wong.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # FCC Chair Signals He Won't Follow Obama's Lead on Internet Rules > Sponsored content. 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Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ## Video: #The Brief: Net Neutrality is a battle for the internet [Watch (HLS stream): #The Brief: Net Neutrality is a battle for the internet](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/JlXNTEu9.m3u8) (1:51)  _Published 2014-11-11. #The Brief: Net Neutrality is a battle for the internet_ by [Helen Regan](https://time.com/author/helen-regan/) ## Helen Regan Nov 12, 2014 9:44 AM UTC  In this May 1, 2013 file photo, President Barack Obama shakes hands with then nominee for Federal Communications Commission, Tom Wheeler, in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington. In this May 1, 2013 file photo, President Barack Obama shakes hands with then nominee for Federal Communications Commission, Tom Wheeler, in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington. Jacquelyn Martin—AP by [Helen Regan](https://time.com/author/helen-regan/) ## Helen Regan Nov 12, 2014 9:44 AM UTC A top federal regulator is [considering a split](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2014/11/11/the-fcc-weighs-breaking-with-obama-over-the-future-of-the-internet/) with President Barack Obama over [a controversial Internet policy](http://time.com/102268/net-neutrality-facts/), according to a new report, in what could set up a big fight between the White House and the Federal Communications Commission. The Washington _Post_, citing unnamed sources who were present, sounded a different note than Obama when addressing a room full of tech executives after the President made his statement Monday. “What you want is what everyone wants: an open Internet that doesn’t affect your business,” FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler told executives from several major tech companies, including Google and Yahoo. “What I’ve got to figure out is how to split the baby.” Obama on Monday made his strongest statement yet in support of Net Neutrality, the principle that all content should be treated equally online. However, the FCC is an independent agency that’s not required to follow the President’s lead on policy matters. [Read more at the Washington _Post_](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2014/11/11/the-fcc-weighs-breaking-with-obama-over-the-future-of-the-internet/) ## Transcript President Obama is urging the FCC to protect net neutrality. Which means a walking telecommunications debate just turned in to a public showdown. I'm Ben Goldberger, and this is your brief. Ever since the internet was created, it's been organized around basic principles of openness. Fairness and freedom. Net neutrality isn't sex. But it matters, because the fight over it is really a battle for the future of the internet. Net neutrality is shorthand for the idea that internet service providers should treat all content equally. It's not up to your phone or cable company to decide which sites are gonna work, and which won't. To make that concept law, President Obama wants the FCC to reclassify the internet under Title 2. Of what's called the telecommunications app. Essentially, a title two classification turns the internet into a utility like gas or electricity. Internet providers have a legal obligation not to block or limit your access to a website. In 1996, Clinton signed the first major telecomm law that incorporated the internet. This bill protects consumers against monopolies. It guarantees the diversity of voices our democracy depends upon. So what happens if the FCC does reclassify the Internet as a utility? Basically, nothing changes. We'll still be able to shop, browse, and stream like we always have. But there would be losers. Verizon, Comcast, and AT & T spent more than $ 54 million lobbying in 2013. [ INAUDIBLE ] imposing net neutrality could stifle competition and limit innovation. No one is sure what the FCC will decide. The commission says it's been studying the issue for over a decade but it still needs more time to get the final rules. Right. 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