http://techliberation.com/2009/02/06/which-republican-for-the-fcc/ Keeping politicians' hands off the Net & everything else related to technology Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:51:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://techliberation.com/2009/02/06/which-republican-for-the-fcc/comment-page-1/#comment-65363 Mike Sullivan Sun, 08 Feb 2009 11:16:31 +0000 http://techliberation.com/?p=16432#comment-65363 <p>Please. We have had an unending succession of Senate staffers and campaign guys as Commissioner. Yes, ex-Senate-staffers know how to compromise, when that is what their bosses want. They also know how to filibuster, so to speak. What they don't necessarily know is anything substantive about telecom. <br><br>When was the last time there was an FCC Commissioner who had any knowledge of engineering or even had an engineering assistant? It was at least 20 years ago (engineering assistant, not Commissioner-engineer). I'd like to see some Commissioners who aren't just Hill people or party hacks; people with substantive knowledge and experience. <br><br>I am heartened that Julius Genakowski has had some experience in the telecommunications and media industries; that qualifies him much more than his time as Reed Hundt's right-hand-man. I am also heartened by the fact that one of the names being bandied about for a Republican seat is that of David Gross, who not only has served in the State Department as our telecom Ambassador, but spent years in the telecom industry before that. The Commission should reflect many different perspectives. Just having lots of people with experience in "policymaking" and being "principled and democratic" isn't good enough. This is supposed to be an "expert" agency.</p> Please. We have had an unending succession of Senate staffers and campaign guys as Commissioner. Yes, ex-Senate-staffers know how to compromise, when that is what their bosses want. They also know how to filibuster, so to speak. What they don't necessarily know is anything substantive about telecom.

When was the last time there was an FCC Commissioner who had any knowledge of engineering or even had an engineering assistant? It was at least 20 years ago (engineering assistant, not Commissioner-engineer). I'd like to see some Commissioners who aren't just Hill people or party hacks; people with substantive knowledge and experience.

I am heartened that Julius Genakowski has had some experience in the telecommunications and media industries; that qualifies him much more than his time as Reed Hundt's right-hand-man. I am also heartened by the fact that one of the names being bandied about for a Republican seat is that of David Gross, who not only has served in the State Department as our telecom Ambassador, but spent years in the telecom industry before that. The Commission should reflect many different perspectives. Just having lots of people with experience in “policymaking” and being “principled and democratic” isn't good enough. This is supposed to be an “expert” agency.

]]> http://techliberation.com/2009/02/06/which-republican-for-the-fcc/comment-page-1/#comment-61774 Mike Sullivan Sun, 08 Feb 2009 07:16:31 +0000 http://techliberation.com/?p=16432#comment-61774 <p>Please. We have had an unending succession of Senate staffers and campaign guys as Commissioner. Yes, ex-Senate-staffers know how to compromise, when that is what their bosses want. They also know how to filibuster, so to speak. What they don't necessarily know is anything substantive about telecom. <br><br>When was the last time there was an FCC Commissioner who had any knowledge of engineering or even had an engineering assistant? It was at least 20 years ago (engineering assistant, not Commissioner-engineer). I'd like to see some Commissioners who aren't just Hill people or party hacks; people with substantive knowledge and experience. <br><br>I am heartened that Julius Genakowski has had some experience in the telecommunications and media industries; that qualifies him much more than his time as Reed Hundt's right-hand-man. I am also heartened by the fact that one of the names being bandied about for a Republican seat is that of David Gross, who not only has served in the State Department as our telecom Ambassador, but spent years in the telecom industry before that. The Commission should reflect many different perspectives. Just having lots of people with experience in "policymaking" and being "principled and democratic" isn't good enough. This is supposed to be an "expert" agency.</p> Please. We have had an unending succession of Senate staffers and campaign guys as Commissioner. Yes, ex-Senate-staffers know how to compromise, when that is what their bosses want. They also know how to filibuster, so to speak. What they don't necessarily know is anything substantive about telecom.

When was the last time there was an FCC Commissioner who had any knowledge of engineering or even had an engineering assistant? It was at least 20 years ago (engineering assistant, not Commissioner-engineer). I'd like to see some Commissioners who aren't just Hill people or party hacks; people with substantive knowledge and experience.

I am heartened that Julius Genakowski has had some experience in the telecommunications and media industries; that qualifies him much more than his time as Reed Hundt's right-hand-man. I am also heartened by the fact that one of the names being bandied about for a Republican seat is that of David Gross, who not only has served in the State Department as our telecom Ambassador, but spent years in the telecom industry before that. The Commission should reflect many different perspectives. Just having lots of people with experience in “policymaking” and being “principled and democratic” isn't good enough. This is supposed to be an “expert” agency.

]]> http://techliberation.com/2009/02/06/which-republican-for-the-fcc/comment-page-1/#comment-57967 Mike Sullivan Sun, 08 Feb 2009 06:16:31 +0000 http://techliberation.com/?p=16432#comment-57967 <p>Please. We have had an unending succession of Senate staffers and campaign guys as Commissioner. Yes, ex-Senate-staffers know how to compromise, when that is what their bosses want. They also know how to filibuster, so to speak. What they don't necessarily know is anything substantive about telecom. <br><br>When was the last time there was an FCC Commissioner who had any knowledge of engineering or even had an engineering assistant? It was at least 20 years ago (engineering assistant, not Commissioner-engineer). I'd like to see some Commissioners who aren't just Hill people or party hacks; people with substantive knowledge and experience. <br><br>I am heartened that Julius Genakowski has had some experience in the telecommunications and media industries; that qualifies him much more than his time as Reed Hundt's right-hand-man. I am also heartened by the fact that one of the names being bandied about for a Republican seat is that of David Gross, who not only has served in the State Department as our telecom Ambassador, but spent years in the telecom industry before that. The Commission should reflect many different perspectives. Just having lots of people with experience in "policymaking" and being "principled and democratic" isn't good enough. This is supposed to be an "expert" agency.</p> Please. We have had an unending succession of Senate staffers and campaign guys as Commissioner. Yes, ex-Senate-staffers know how to compromise, when that is what their bosses want. They also know how to filibuster, so to speak. What they don't necessarily know is anything substantive about telecom.

When was the last time there was an FCC Commissioner who had any knowledge of engineering or even had an engineering assistant? It was at least 20 years ago (engineering assistant, not Commissioner-engineer). I'd like to see some Commissioners who aren't just Hill people or party hacks; people with substantive knowledge and experience.

I am heartened that Julius Genakowski has had some experience in the telecommunications and media industries; that qualifies him much more than his time as Reed Hundt's right-hand-man. I am also heartened by the fact that one of the names being bandied about for a Republican seat is that of David Gross, who not only has served in the State Department as our telecom Ambassador, but spent years in the telecom industry before that. The Commission should reflect many different perspectives. Just having lots of people with experience in “policymaking” and being “principled and democratic” isn't good enough. This is supposed to be an “expert” agency.

]]>