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Editorial: Ivan Seidenberg for FCC Chair
Wednesday, 15 December 2010 01:09
Dave_Ivan_Seidenberg_Dick_Wiley_smallerObama wants some senior executives in government, and Ivan has already passed the torch to Lowell McAdam at Verizon. Seidenberg built FiOS, the best large network in the Western World. His state-of-the-art LTE network will soon cover 90% of the U.S.  His 40 years of experience - literally beginning as a lineman - are unparalleled. He has been right so often on industry trends it's astonishing. In 1999, Ivan told wall street the CLECs wouldn't matter and the fight would come down to telco versus cable. It took five years before most of the best in the business saw that. 
    My pro-consumer bias means I often have disagreed with Ivan, but I have enormous respect for his knowledge and ability to get things done. Genachowski on the other hand is now two years into the Obama regime within essentially only one accomplishment to point to: dramatically improved morale at the FCC. On major issues, Genachowski's has achieved almost nothing. His current proposals - especially USF with a huge Internet tax - are far less consumer oriented than his conservative Republican predecessor, Kevin Martin.
    As a practical matter, Jules' FCC is unwilling to oppose the corporations. Jim Cicconi, AT&T uber-lobbyist, controlled the FCC net neutrality rules coming next week. Jules made a political decision not to do anything on neutrality AT&T wouldn't accept. That gave Cicconi veto power. The Comcast deal is going through with largely symbolic terms even though just about every economist opposed to media concentration thinks Jules should just say no. There's billions in a Bell giveaway built into Jules' USF/ICC proposals, although he probably doesn't even realize that.
    In which case, I'd much rather have a competent and effective corporate executive running the FCC. There's a natural alternate job for lawyer Julius. Verizon's Tom Tauke is at a likely retirement age. Verizon paid Bob Barr $7M/year as counsel. That would be generous incentive for his early resignation.