Video: Net Neutrality Opponents Confront FCC Chair Outside His Home

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler made an effort to distance himself from President Barack Obama's Internet regulation policies earlier this week, but that just wasn't enough for a few people who showed up outside Wheeler's home.

A YouTube video posted Monday showed about four demonstrators confronting Wheeler as he was about to get into his car.

Image source: YouTube

"I'm sorry, but we can't let you go to work today because you work for Comcast, Verizon and AT&T and not for the people. We can't let you go there because you're selling us out on Internet neutrality and that's not OK with us," one of the three women sitting behind Wheeler's car said.

As a man brought large banner which read "Save the Internet" into view, the woman continued her pitch: "So we want to know which side you're on, Tom."

Wheeler joined the protesters with almost no hesitation but one protestor quickly called him out: "This is not a photo op to pretend like you're saving the Internet." Wheeler quickly countered that he is saving the Internet, which the demonstrators dismissed.

The group began chanting, "Time to reclassify. Don't let the Internet die." At that point, Wheeler appeared to ready to get away.

"You can't ignore the people, Tom," one of the protesters said as Wheelers appeared to be plotting his escape route.

But when Wheeler realized it was  going to take a lot more than that to get his vehicle out of his driveway, he asked what he was supposed to do.

"That's your problem. That's your problem. We don't think you're working for us right now," a protester responded.

Wheeler later said, "I'm protecting your rights. I'm working for your rights." He then reminded the small group of protesters that they were blocking his driveway.

"You are inhibiting my rights," Wheeler told them.

As the argument became more heated, Wheeler asked one more time to be able to leave his driveway. When the protesters still didn't leave, the FCC chairman shut his car door, said "thank you" and went back inside of his home.

Obama on Monday called for the Internet to be regulated as a utility just like water or electricity, and for the FCC to protect Internet accessibility for all consumers, without any so-called "fast lanes" for Internet service providers to give preferential treatment to higher-paying customers.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Monday criticized the president's proposal, dubbing it nothing more than "Obamacare for the Internet."

“[Net neutrality] puts the government in charge of determining Internet pricing, terms of service, and what types of products and services can be delivered, leading to fewer choices, fewer opportunities, and higher prices for consumers," Cruz said.

FCC did not return multiple requests for comment from TheBlaze asking whether protesters are still gathered outside of Wheeler's home.

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