Dear RCR,
I recently was confirmed by the United States Senate to be an FCC commissioner! Although I am excited about my new position, I also am a little worried about all this new responsibility. Do you have any tips for me to help me handle the pressures of my new job?-Dazzled in D.C.
Dear Dazzled,
I’m glad you asked. When you are done reading this column, cut it out and put it on the refrigerator door of the commissioner lounge. I’m sure your new colleagues could use a little advice, too.
Once you are settled in your new office, you’ll notice that some items in the “In” box are several years old. Your first instinct may be to make some decisions and clear your desk so you can attack a new pile of work. You may be thinking that these unsettled issues are stopping progress, affecting people’s lives and livelihoods.
Stop. You are in the big leagues, now. The federal government. The process takes time. (You won’t be making any friends at the other regulatory agencies if you are too efficient, either). Also, the people that would be affected by your rulings have been operating in an abyss for years. They’re used to it. Don’t rock the boat.
You also may want to educate yourself on some of the larger issues you will face. Issues, schmissues. It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. How do you think you got this far? Instead of wasting time reading comments, concentrate on getting invited to some fancy dinners, where you can mingle and meet. Hint, brown is “in” this season.
You will on occasion run into members of the National Association of Broadcasters. Do whatever they say. I wish I could give you a reason why, but I don’t know. However, many in Congress are afraid of them. They know where you live. Trust the instincts of the pack.
Once you feel comfortable in your new job, try to dismantle the California PUC and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. The California PUC hogs the limelight all the time. Big merger being put together? Its authors aren’t worried about getting it through the FCC, instead they spend all their time fretting over the PUC. As far as the Sixth Circuit goes, they live to prove you wrong. Take them out.
What to do about the C block you ask?
Oh look, here I am at the end of the column. Sorry. No more room to chat. You’ll have to face that one on your own, my dear.
