The letter said Wheeler would be able to “hit the ground running” as chairman and listed his achievements in the private sector and as an advocate for the cable and wireless industries “when they were the insurgents challenging the established players.” Wheeler “has consistently fought on the side of increasing competition,” said the letter. “He understands the importance of reclaiming the pro-competition, pro-innovation, pro-growth regulatory ideal."
Nearly a dozen former White House, FCC and Capitol Hill advisers wrote President Barack Obama Thursday endorsing Tom Wheeler to be the next FCC chairman (http://bit.ly/17tN754). The letter said Wheeler would be able to “hit the ground running” as chairman and listed his achievements in the private sector and as an advocate for the cable and wireless industries “when they were the insurgents challenging the established players.” Wheeler “has consistently fought on the side of increasing competition,” said the letter. “He understands the importance of reclaiming the pro-competition, pro-innovation, pro-growth regulatory ideal.” The letter’s signatories said Wheeler’s work on the digital TV transition makes them “confident that the focus and knowledge of spectrum issues that Tom brought to that undertaking will serve the Commission well once again in the execution of the upcoming auction of broadcast spectrum.” It was signed by Susan Crawford, former special assistant to the president for science, technology and innovation policy; Phil Weiser, former senior adviser for technology and innovation; Sonal Shah, former director of the White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation; Phil Verveer, former U.S. ambassador and deputy assistant secretary of state for international communications and information policy; Larry Irving, former NTIA administrator; Decker Anstrom, former U.S. ambassador and head of delegation for the 2012 World Radio Conference, as well as an ex-NCTA president; Terry Kramer, former U.S. ambassador and head of delegation for the World Conference on International Telecommunications; Andrew Schwartzman, former president of the Media Access Project; Kevin Werbach, former co-leader of the Obama-Biden transition team on the FCC; David Aylward, former chief counsel/staff director at the House Telecommunications and Finance Subcommittee; and Paul de Sa, former chief of the FCC’s Office of Strategic Planning. Crawford confirmed the existence of the letter and said she had not yet received a response from the White House.
Nearly a dozen former White House, FCC and Capitol Hill advisers wrote President Barack Obama Thursday endorsing Tom Wheeler to be the next FCC chairman (http://bit.ly/17tN754). The letter said Wheeler would be able to “hit the ground running” as chairman and listed his achievements in the private sector and as an advocate for the cable and wireless industries “when they were the insurgents challenging the established players.” Wheeler “has consistently fought on the side of increasing competition,” said the letter. “He understands the importance of reclaiming the pro-competition, pro-innovation, pro-growth regulatory ideal.” The letter’s signatories said Wheeler’s work on the digital TV transition makes them “confident that the focus and knowledge of spectrum issues that Tom brought to that undertaking will serve the Commission well once again in the execution of the upcoming auction of broadcast spectrum.” It was signed by Susan Crawford, former special assistant to the president for science, technology and innovation policy; Phil Weiser, former senior adviser for technology and innovation; Sonal Shah, former director of the White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation; Phil Verveer, former U.S. ambassador and deputy assistant secretary of state for international communications and information policy; Larry Irving, former NTIA administrator; Decker Anstrom, former U.S. ambassador and head of delegation for the 2012 World Radio Conference, as well as an ex-NCTA president; Terry Kramer, former U.S. ambassador and head of delegation for the World Conference on International Telecommunications; Andrew Schwartzman, former president of the Media Access Project; Kevin Werbach, former co-leader of the Obama-Biden transition team on the FCC; David Aylward, former chief counsel/staff director at the House Telecommunications and Finance Subcommittee; and Paul de Sa, former chief of the FCC’s Office of Strategic Planning. Crawford confirmed the existence of the letter and said she had not yet received a response from the White House.
One potential side effect of the pending change in leadership at the FCC is an almost inevitable slowdown in the development of rules for an incentive auction of broadcast TV spectrum, industry officials agree. The FCC has already been quiet in recent months on the auction, targeted for 2014, with no workshops on the agenda and comparatively little public outreach in recent months. Industry officials following the auction closely say in some cases they are already getting mixed signals from the Wireless and Media bureaus and the staff team overseeing the rules.
One potential side effect of the pending change in leadership at the FCC is an almost inevitable slowdown in the development of rules for an incentive auction of broadcast TV spectrum, industry officials agree. The FCC has already been quiet in recent months on the auction, targeted for 2014, with no workshops on the agenda and comparatively little public outreach in recent months. Industry officials following the auction closely say in some cases they are already getting mixed signals from the Wireless and Media bureaus and the staff team overseeing the rules.
As interim chair of the FCC, Commissioner Mignon Clyburn would likely take on a number of issues, starting with her big issue of late, prison calling, FCC and industry officials said last week. Another big issue for Clyburn has been 700 MHz interoperability, but how much she would be able to do on that with a 2-1 commission is unclear. A former top FCC official said Clyburn’s staff should already be looking around for a few issues on which she can make her mark as the first woman to head the agency.
Tom Wheeler, considered the frontrunner to be the next FCC chairman, saw his candidacy hit two potential roadblocks this week. Thirty-seven Senators, led by Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, asked President Barack Obama to name Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel as chairman. Fifteen public interest groups, led by the New America Foundation, released a letter Wednesday calling Obama to nominate a public interest advocate instead of Wheeler, former president of NCTA and CTIA. The public interest group letter was expected (CD March 27 p6), but industry officials said the senators’ letter was a surprise.
It’s unclear how a deal to consolidate control of Verizon Wireless would change the overall dynamics of the market, industry experts told us Monday following renewed speculation that Verizon Communications was more seriously considering options for acquiring Vodafone’s 45 percent ownership of the No. 1 U.S. wireless carrier.
Public interest groups are expressing some concerns about the potential appointment of Tom Wheeler as the next chairman of the FCC, replacing Julius Genachowski (CD March 25 p1). At least one official has signaled to the White House public interest groups could live with the choice, sector officials said Monday. Wheeler, 66, managing partner at Core Capital Partners, was president of CTIA from 1992 to 2003 and CEO of NCTA from 1979-1984.
Public interest groups are expressing some concerns about the potential appointment of Tom Wheeler as the next chairman of the FCC, replacing Julius Genachowski (CD March 25 p1). At least one official has signaled to the White House public interest groups could live with the choice, sector officials said Monday. Wheeler, 66, managing partner at Core Capital Partners, was president of CTIA from 1992 to 2003 and CEO of NCTA from 1979-1984.