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| FCC Chairman Choices - 2004 |
| Wednesday, 12 November 2008 10:52 |
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Looking Back at 2004, it shouldn't be surprising my choices are similar now, because I pointed to some of the best in the business and they continue to draw respect. If the Democrats won, I wrote Blair Levin is exceptionally qualified, proving himself the most thoughtful and accurate voice in policy circles. I added Larry Irvine is also thoughtful, generous, and public-spirited. I didn't think most of the other names floating around should be serious candidates, because the commission is dedicated to the public interest, and rare is the lobbyist who can serve it.
" I spoke instead of public interest advocates like Gene Kimmelman of Consumer's Union, Mark Cooper of Consumer Federation, or Jamie Love of the Consumer Project on Technology. Harold Feld has since done some outstanding work on wireless issues, so I would add him to that group. I don't know Chris Murray of Consumer's Union, but a friend I trust tells me his work recently has been excellent. I suggested then “Consider instead Jeff Pulver, a political independent who has two virtues few of the D.C. folks share. He's a successful entrepreneur, whose proven ability to 'meet a payroll' should give him a businesslike attitude Republicans can respect. He's also far better informed about both the technology and the business realities than almost anyone in D.C. I added to the list technologists Dave Farber, Dave Clark, John Cioffi, Dewayne Hendricks, and David Isenberg, as well as Bill Smith of BellSouth, Mark Wegleitner and Paul Lacouture of Verizon, BT's CTO Matt Bross (an American), Alcatel's CTO Neil Ransom (also an American) and Hossein Eslambolchi of AT&T. They strike me as individuals who could put aside their corporate interests if called to public service. Similarly, John Hodulik at UBS or Anton Wahlman of Needham (a former Cato Institute staffer) from wall street have proven their knowledge.” Four years later, I don't think D.C. policy people are what the commission needs now. Cioffi's company, ASSIA, is growing rapidly and I doubt he'd leave. Larry has taken a different path. A friend I respect tells me Chris Murray of Consumers' Union also belongs on this list, but I haven't had time to do the research.
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