Cable Lobbyist Tom Wheeler Confirmed As New FCC Chief

An anonymous reader writes "The U.S. Senate confirmed Tuesday the nomination of a new chairman to the Federal Communications Commission. Wheeler is a former investor and head of telecommunications industry groups. President Barack Obama said, when announcing Wheeler as his choice in May, that 'for more than 30 years, Tom has been at the forefront of some of the very dramatic changes that we've seen in the way we communicate and how we live our lives.'"

thank you sir

[Anonymous Coward]

may i have another?

Dare to Hope

[Anne_Nonymous]

Dare to Hope; Prepare to be Disappointed.

Very dramatic changes

[chromas]

Tom has been at the forefront of some of the very dramatic changes that we've seen in the way we communicate and how we live our lives

Changes? Like putting speed bumps on the highway?

Re:Regulatory capture

[phantomfive]

This is why a lot of people say it's better to do government operations as close to the people as possible. That is, if it can be done at a city level, do it at a city level. If it can be done at a state level, do it at a state level. Only a few things should be done at the national level.

The farther things get from the people, the easier it is for them to be corrupted (or rather, if some town gets corrupted, it doesn't affect people outside that town).

Like Wile E Coyote named head of Roadrunner rescue

[JoeyRox]

You know a government is corrupt when they don't even bother to hide it anymore.

from TFA

[Anonymous Coward]

Republican Senator Ted Cruz earlier on Tuesday said he had removed a hold on Wheeler's nomination after the nominee reassured him during a meeting that regulation of campaign funding disclosures, without Congressional action, was "not a priority."

In other words, Cruz was concerned that this guy might increase regulations on politicians seeking re-election. Once he was assured that was not the case, Cruz had no problems with this cable industry lobbyist guy being appointed head of the FCC.

Thanks, Tea Party!

Re:Regulatory capture

[FriendlyLurker]

"Regulatory capture", what a nice sounding name for Graft [wikipedia.org]: ", a form of political corruption, is the unscrupulous use of a politician's authority for personal gain."

I guess that is what you have to call corruption and graft now it is so common/the norm amongst our ruling elites. Brings new meaning to the phrase "politically correct"...

Fox elected to guard henhouse, news at 11 (on Fox)

[korbulon]

All these revelations and new about the fcc, nsa, tsa, etc etc all serve to hammer home the same point: rules are for suckers, rules are for idiots, rules are for everyone else.

As you as you reach a certain level of power, you ascend into a special clique where the only rules that matter are those that pertain to that clique. So break and bend the laws of the land, yes fine, but heaven help you if you transgress the pre-existing power matrix, that you commit some unforgivable faux pas at the dinner party, because then fuck you.

I know all this - I've known it for years: the world is a dirty place filled with filthy, corrupt, disgusting characters where morals and regulations and laws are put in place largely to maintain order, not justice. And yet stories like this still never fail to fill me with an indescribable loathing.

Re:Dare to Hope

[sconeu]

Dare to be cynical; prepare to get exactly what you expected.

Re:Regulatory capture

[phantomfive]

Problem is, this central agency is already bought and paid for.

At risk of pointing out the obvious, that's a good part of why you don't have a chance of doing it centrally.

You think it sounds easier centrally, because you think, "If I were in charge, we could........." but you are not in charge, and good luck getting a non-corrupt person in charge and keeping him there. Do you REALLY think you have a chance of getting a less-corrupt president than Obama in the next election?

However, if your goal is to get a less-corrupt mayor......that is a lot more achievable for someone like you.

Re:It all makes perfect sense!

[Anonymous Coward]

The biggest bank robbers are the C?O executives, and they are in charge of bank security.

Re:from TFA

[Mr D from 63]

I'm not a fan of Cruz, but he was the only one to show any concern that this appointee might use his power for political purposes. Considering the choice, its not a stretch, whether you agree with his position or not. And to be fair, Neither Obama or any other senator, Democratic or Republican "had any problems with this cable industry lobbyist guy being appointed head of the FCC" either.

Re:Like Wile E Coyote named head of Roadrunner res

[Anonymous Coward]

First I laughed. Then I cried when I realized this wasn't a joke but reality.

Re:Regulatory capture

[P-niiice]

Central agencies do stuff all over the planet, and do them well, unless you contention is that Americans are inherently less honest. If corruption is a problem, the risk of corruption doesn't change, but now you have companies having to do 50 times to work in order to comply. It makes no sense to do it otherwise.

Re:Dare to Hope

[ApplePy]

Hey now... we were promised transparency by the Precedent, and we got it! All the corruption is completely out in the open now!

A new clause needed for "public service"

[oDDmON oUT]

Institute something modeled after the standard non-compete clause used by industry; except it would prevent any individual from holding a government position which directly regulates, affects or promotes the same sector or type of business they left the private sector for, to become a public servant.

Conversely, once leaving public service, the individual would be enjoined from contacting officials on behalf of, promoting, lobbying or attempting to influence legislation for any business or industry, for a period of three years.

A perfect clause would prevent someone from taking a job in any industry, after lobbying on its behalf, for a period of five years.

Which would stop crap like this [newsmax.com].

Re:Thud!

[sideslash]

A lot of people will be mad at me for saying this, but President Obama has gotten a free pass for lots of bad stuff because of his race. If a white Republican congressperson started a movement to impeach him for (just to pick an easy example) waging war in Libya without congressional authorization, they would be called racist faster than you can say the words "colorblind society".