SpectrumTalk

Election Time Means Outplacement and Burrowing at FCC

On August 12, xchange magazine's website reported that Andrew Kreig was "stepping down" as president and CEO of the Wireless Communications Association and that "Fred Campbell, a former wireless bureau chief at the FCC, will take over in the interim while the WCA looks for a permanent replacement." Telephony Online reported that "Campbell is a likely candidate for the position, saying he would accept the role if offered." The Japanese call this type of outplacement amakudari (天下り), meaning "descent from heaven".

The item shown at left from the FCC web site confirms this news and shows that my former OET colleague, Jim Schlichting, has taken over as Acting Bureau Chief in WTB. Just as I had been exiled from OET many years ago (for the audacity of creating the foundation of Wi-Fi) , Jim had been exiled to OET in 2003 from WTB. Congratulations, Jim, on your triumphant return to the top rank in the bureau.

An interesting question: Why is there not news of any of this on the FCC website?

WTB Headlines for August 2008

Also to watch out for in this season is political types "borrowing in " to career jobs at FCC. While FCC has a longstanding unwritten policy that commissioners' assistants can convert to career jobs - many have become outstanding civil servants in the past - this does not extend to other noncareer employees who are supposed to apply through the merit system. There are increasing reports of odd people from the White House and elsewhere magically showing up as career civil servants at FCC in this election season.