Tom Wheeler to head FCC?

[Donna Halper]

On 5/1/2013 1:56 AM, Garrett Wollman wrote:
>> The Wall Street Journal reports:
>> "President Barack Obama is expected to soon nominate a former top
>> lobbyist for the cable and wireless industries to lead the Federal
>> Communications Commission, two people familiar with the matter said.
>>      
>    
And as with choosing ambassadors, presidents throughout the modern age 
have chosen FCC commissioners based on their loyalty in the political 
sphere as much as on their knowledge of telecommunications.  Some 
previous FCC commissioners and chairs had minimal broadcasting 
expertise-- they came from big business, where they were huge 
fundraisers for the president, or they were devoted to getting him 
elected.  A couple of former chairs did in fact have broadcasting 
experience, but as I said, not everyone was selected for that reason-- 
some were a thank-you to a supporter (think Michael Powell, chosen, by 
most accounts, because he was Colin Powell's son).  Not sure why 
President Obama is choosing this guy-- maybe he'll turn out to be better 
than we expected.