FORMER CONGRESSMAN AND FOOTBALL GREAT LARGENT TO LEAD CTIA

CTIA named the former representative (R-Okla.) and NFL star late Mon. to head the trade group, where he will take the helm officially in Nov. Largent had told us last week that he was in the running for the position (CD Aug 14 p9), which under Wheeler’s tenure had been among the highest paid association jobs in Washington. A pro football Hall of Famer, Largent now works as a senior public policy consultant in the govt. affairs practice group at Wiley, Rein & Fielding and had a relatively low public profile on wireless policy issues during his 8-year tenure in Congress, from which he resigned in 2001 to make an unsuccessful bid for Okla. governor.

While spectrum allocation and management are “critically important” to the industry to be able to provide new services, Largent also stressed the importance of the sector’s financial condition. “Much of the wireless industry, particularly the providers, have not shown profits until just recently because they have been reinvesting the money into the basic infrastructure, maintaining 3 levels of infrastructure from first to 3rd generation,” he said. “Policy has a great deal to do with how the financial markets view the future of the industry. We are just beginning to see kind of the tip of the iceberg concerning the types of [technology] tools that will be provided in the future.”

Largent, 48, will take over the trade group amid several contentious proceedings before the FCC on which CTIA members have taken different positions. Verizon Wireless has objected to a petition filed at the FCC by rival carriers that included AT&T Wireless and Cingular on wireless local number portability (LNP). Verizon has urged the Commission to turn down the arguments of its competitors, which it said would transform LNP into a tool for restricting customer turnover. Nextel has proposed a rebanding plan to alleviate interference to public safety operators at 800 MHz that cellular carriers have opposed with a plan of their own. Such differences of opinion among membership in a group the size of CTIA isn’t uncommon, Largent said. “I think what the association’s job is going to be is to say let’s focus on the things that we all agree on and make that the major emphasis,” he said.

While in Congress, Largent was on the House Commerce Committee for 7 years and was a member of the Oversight & Investigations, Environmental & Hazardous Materials and Energy & Air Quality subcommittees. While not carving out a policy niche on wireless issues, he did speak out on parts of the Tauzin-Dingell bill, saying the benefits the Bell companies would receive would harm local competition.

Largent’s experience on the Commerce Committee gives him an “appreciation of the complexities of telecommunications and the unique competitive nature of wireless,” said Scott Ford, Alltel CEO, who as CTIA chmn. had led the search committee. “Steve has also demonstrated the ability to lead and build consensus in an environment that is rife with differing opinions.” Verizon Wireless CEO Denny Strigl said: “Steve is clearly the right man for the job. We look forward to working with Steve Largent to renew efforts to keep the often heavy hand of the government, tax man and regulators off wireless customers and the industry as we forge ahead.”

While Largent opposed the Tauzin-Dingell bill, one lobbyist said that shouldn’t reduce his lobbying fire power on the Hill with people like House Commerce Committee Chmn. Tauzin (R-La.). In a bigger picture way, despite whatever policy disagreements he might have had in the past, Largent was well liked by colleagues on the Hill and his tenure made him part of a “very distinguished alumni association.”

The selection of Largent ended a lengthy search for a replacement for Wheeler. Last month, Rep. Pickering (R- Miss.) withdrew his name from consideration after apparently coming close to taking the job. Other reported candidates included CTIA senior vp-govt. affairs Steve Berry and former Defense Dept. spokeswoman and NCTA Vp Victoria Clarke.

Largent told us that one of the attractions of the CTIA job for him was that wireless policy issues weren’t partisan, although they might be informed by regional differences or opinions of the wireless industry as a whole. “I feel totally comfortable approaching former colleagues on the Democratic and Republican sides of the aisle,” he said. “Everybody is fascinated by the industry as a whole.”

Largent said he planned to relocate to Washington from Okla., from which he has commuted for the Wiley position. He said he planned to delay a permanent move for about 9 months to allow his youngest son to complete his senior year in high school.

Largent is best known for his 14-year NFL career, which included record-setting performances as a wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks. He reportedly was in the running earlier this year for the then-vacant gen. mgr. position with the Seahawks, telling a reporter in Feb. he would take the job if it were offered. In May, he became exec. dir. of the Wheelchair Foundation’s Mid-West Chapter, which aims to distribute 1 million wheelchairs worldwide by 2008. He and his wife, Terry, have 4 children.

“It’s going to be a tremendous challenge -- it’s fraught with dangers but also with opportunities,” Largent said. “I am following in the steps of the Vince Lombardi of the trade associations,” he said of Wheeler. “He’s set the bar.”

The search for Wheeler’s replacement had received close scrutiny in part because in recent years his compensation package had topped that of his peers at other trade groups in Washington, nearing $1.3 million. Wheeler told the board in Dec. he would leave at the end of 2003 when his contract ran out. He has led CTIA since 1992 and was required to give one year’s notice.