In the Wheeler-House of Spectrum

On Nov. 4, Tom Wheeler became the FCC Chairman (though it is certainly understandable if you didn’t notice considering the government wasn’t functioning very well that day). His tenancy in the position promises to be interesting, too, as he has a historian’s perspective and welcomes change like few others.

Wheeler’s basic tenet, “networks may change, but people rights should not”, may be somewhat out of step with the recent revelation that we are all under constant surveillance, however this long view might be just what is needed to deliver on the goal of ending the PSTN by 2018. In his opening remarks to his staff Wheeler, in fact, showed just how long his view can be, in effect, bundling broadcast and telephone without giving dominance to either:  

“There is no doubt that today we are living history in the midst of the fourth great network revolution.  Gutenberg’s printing press enabled the original information revolution; the railroad was the first high-speed network; and the instantaneous electronic transmissions of the telegraph opened the door to everything from broadcasting to the telephone. Each of these network revolutions redefined mankind’s path forward."

So what is the fourth network revolution that Chairman Wheeler sees as our living history? The answer to that question, like his highlighting of the Gutenberg Press, is not technology-based but is actually the impact borne of the speed at which information is delivered. That is quite a formidable network revolution to manage, of course, and it suggests that many a tree can be missed in this forest. 

Being the historian that Chairman Wheeler is, he referred to the first chapter of his book “Taking Command” (“Dare to Fail”) in which he points to the disparity in the historical lessons of General Lee versus those of General McClellan. This suggests that action is going to be the outcome of Wheeler’s legacy, which is somewhat hard to swallow seeing how much it contrasts with business-as-usual in Washington, and considering that with the history of the FCC and the Federal Court system we can assume that any movement will be challenged.

Grey clouds aside, Chairman Wheeler does have some good things to look forward to. First, there is enough Notice of Proposed Ruling Making before him to indicate that he can pretty much steer in a new direction and the data to navigate will already be in his hands. Second, Wheeler’s historical perspective makes it clear that he can handle losing some battles and still maintain his hope of winning the war. Now it would be so easy (too easy?) to reference Pickett’s Charge here as a warning, but in his book “Mr. Lincoln’s T-Mails” Wheeler gives us a making of the president circa 1860.

My hope is Chairman Wheeler and his perspective both get the respect they deserve. We keep saying communications is essential for the economic engine, so now let’s see if we can help it to gather up some speed.