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US: Struggles ahead for new FCC chief

By  |  October 30, 2013

Following Tuesday’s confirmation of Tom Wheeler as head of the US Federal Communications Commission, reports say Wheeler faces tough obstacles as the head of an agency with big power in a big industry.

Wheeler was confirmed nearly six months after President Obama’s nomination; the confirmation was stalled in part due to Senator Ted Cruz’s objection to the appointment.

Now, reports say Wheeler faces difficult tasks ahead as he is to oversee mega multi-billion dollar mergers in the telecommunications industry as well as an upcoming spectrum auction, also worth billions of dollars.

According to one scholar, Susan Crawford, who helped transition the FCC between the Bush and Obama administrations, Wheeler is entering the position “at a time when his leadership is sorely needed” to ensure thriving competition in the telco market.

Full content: TIME

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