Funny how things change sometimes, how fortunes can so dramatically turn around.
Take the case of Democratic Federal Communications Commission member Jonathan Adelstein, central actor in a now-concluded political drama that revolved around an unremarkable re-nomination process that went from a series of unfortunate events to a very long engagement.
After the emblematic victory of Rep. John Thune (R-S.D.) over Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.)-minority leader and Adelstein advocate-not even Mark Twain would have regarded Adelstein’s certain FCC fate an exaggeration. Which is what makes his more secure, current status and future prospects all the more spectacular.
Adelstein’s first tour was almost over before it began in December 2002, owing to the circumstance of being picked by Bush (via Daschle) to complete the final six months of the five-year term of former Democratic FCC Commissioner Gloria Tristani. Still, how fitting when you consider telecom and information age technology tend to arrive in South Dakota and rural areas generally late in the day.
Given Adelstein’s tenuous tenure the first go-round, his party affiliation and other factors, Adelstein was viewed as the weakest of the five commissioners. It was not an unreasonable assessment.
Now Adelstein has a fresh five, and there are reasons to believe he could become more of a force in telecom policy-making than anyone would have imagined only a few weeks ago.
Start with the obvious. Adelstein is in. In contrast, rumors abound about possible departures the next year or so by Chairman Michael Powell and Commissioners Kathleen Abernathy and Kevin Martin-in other words, the FCC majority.
Second, consider Adelstein’s base: rural America. It’s vast, vociferous and oh-so-well represented on the Senate Commerce Committee that Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) will chair beginning next year when Congress presumably takes up the rewrite of the 1996 telecom act. It should matter little that Adelstein is a Democrat in a country as red as Mars.
Third, there’s FCC Commissioner Michael Copps. The other Democratic FCC commissioner’s seniority, experience and political savvy can only help Adelstein work telecom issues at an FCC with what appears to be a lame-duck GOP majority.
Last, Adelstein himself. He’s bright, thoughtful and otherwise appears to have all the tools for the job. So far, he’s been overshadowed by colleagues. But factors could conspire that enable him to exceed expectations. What it means for wireless, which wants to rid itself of taxes and regulation, is unclear. This much is not: Adelstein is alive and well at the FCC.
