Tom Wheeler is an American telecommunications executive and government official who served as the 31st Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from 2013 to 2017. Born on November 5, 1946, Wheeler built a prominent career in the telecom industry before entering public service. He began as a venture capitalist, founding Wheeler & Associates, and held leadership roles at major companies, including CEO of Cellular One (the nation's first nationwide cellular provider) from 1984 to 1987 and CEO of U S WEST (a Baby Bell company) from 1987 to 1992. Wheeler also served as president of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) from 1979 to 1984 and as CEO of the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA) from 1992 to 2004, where he advocated for the expansion of cable, wireless, and internet technologies.

Appointed by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the Senate, Wheeler's FCC tenure focused on modernizing communications regulations amid rapid technological change. Key initiatives included the 2015 Open Internet Order, which reclassified broadband internet as a telecommunications service to enforce net neutrality rules, preventing ISPs from blocking or throttling content; efforts to expand broadband access, particularly in rural areas; and auctioning spectrum for 5G development. His policies drew praise from consumer advocates but criticism from industry groups and Republicans for perceived overregulation. Wheeler navigated high-profile issues like the Comcast-Time Warner Cable merger (which he blocked) and privacy rulemakings.

After leaving the FCC in January 2017, Wheeler transitioned to advisory roles, including as a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution and a board member for organizations like the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. He authored 'From Gutenberg to Zuckerberg: Disruptive Innovation in the Media Age' in 2019, analyzing media evolution. Wheeler has been involved in Democratic politics, serving as a fundraiser for Obama and Biden campaigns, and remains influential in tech policy discussions.