The CTIA (originally the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association) is excited to have its former president nominated as chair of the FCC. Tom Wheeler was the president of the CTIA from 1992 to 2004, which includes the year when Congress tried to rewrite the telecom act of 1934 with the telecom act of 1996.
In 2011 he watched as the National Association of Broadcasters [NAB] blocked the broadcaster spectrum sale.
Tom Wheeler as a historian understands the transitions that communications have made, as is obvious by his book “Mr. Lincoln’s T-Mails.” While we call the telegraph the “Victorian Internet,” it might be more appropriate to say it was Lincoln’s Twitter, since so much of his messaging was public. Wheeler has also written a book about the leaders of the Civil War.
The result is that Wheeler has a strong understanding of the Congress’s ability to support and scuttle.
So in his recent letter to the CTIA pushing for that group to enable unlocked phones to be bought and sold in the U.S., he is accomplishing several things.
First of all he has shown an awareness of things that can be accomplished that will be popular. No consumer is going to complain that they want their phone to be locked.
Secondly, he shows himself to be his own man, (at least in theory). His blog Mobile Musings shows a willingness to express his opinion, which may have to be curtailed to survive his new role.
Third, he has put an objective timeline on it. Outgoing FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski’s era was filled with unrequited reform, including vast and voluminous efforts that showed the complexity and the paralysis of analysis. If we wanted to make a comparison to Civil War Generals, McClellan would be the logical comparison.
The question that should be asked of Tom Wheeler is what General he wants to be compared to after his regime.
General Grant, of course, is one to avoid being compared to in Washington. Besides the alcohol factor, the fact that he became president would put Tom Wheeler in a clash with egos all over Congress.
For Wheeler, General Meade may be the one leader he’d want to be likened to. Meade was competent and exemplary in battle, and has the credit for the Gettysburg victory.
On the other hand, Wheeler may be heading to be the next Sherman. Sherman’s “March to the Sea” was a success for the North as he destroyed all in his path. Sherman’s battles almost always involved a flanking maneuver, and in Washington that might be a “must” for success.
Assuming he has success in getting the CTIA to move forward, we are going to see a new era of bringing the leased phone model to wireless. It will also be a boon to cheaper smartphones.
Regardless of who he ends up being compared to, it’s clear that Wheeler is going to be skilled at managing policy civilly. That in itself is a victory.
Edited by Rory J. Thompson
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