You can’t keep a good man down.
The anesthesia had barely worn off before the national news media was in Tom Wheeler’s face. The New York Times and CNN wanted to know why the wireless telecom industry doesn’t want to help the Clinton administration fight the bad guys.
This, the CTIA president needed upon returning home from arthroscopic knee surgery two weeks ago? What about a weekend of recovery, watching the Ohio State Buckeyes light up the scoreboard?
Some recovery, the puncture pain returning, Wheeler has to coherently convince the national news media the wireless industry is on the same side as law enforcement.
No, he tells the world, Congress never intended that cell phones operate as homing devices. Now, the FBI seems to be conceding as much. Well, maybe. Never mind that cellular firms that went digital after Jan. 1, 1995, and all PCS carriers have to eat the cost of digital wiretap modifications, save a legislative fix.
The FBI still insists it’s a money issue; that is, AT&T Wireless Inc.-the nation’s top cellular carrier and an influential CTIA member-is stirring things up because its analog-to-digital conversion precludes it from receiving government reimbursement for wiretap modifications. Well, maybe.
OK, got that under control. But wait, the Federal Aviation Administration wants to tax wireless carriers seeking antenna clearance. Foot soldiers from two wireless camps storm Capitol Hill to put out the fire at the 11th hour. Whew.
Aren’t the FBI and the FAA the two agencies in charge of the TWA Flight 800 explosion investigation that remains unexplained? This is the same FBI stretched thin with agents working TWA, Saudi Arabia, Atlanta and elsewhere. The FBI and FAA have time for wireless issues?
Now off crutches, Wheeler hobbles and wobbles around headquarters, contemplating his next move. Darn knee is beginning to hurt again. Nothing a couple aspirin and a Dr. Pepper can’t solve. OK, time to strike back at tax-happy state and local governments. We’re talking coup de grace.
CTIA asks the FCC to pre-empt local and state taxation of wireless carriers. “So you think we’re one big Sugar Daddy,” Wheeler sneers. “Think again.”
Now, it’s Friday and the GOP-led Congress is working furiously to adjourn so lawmakers can campaign. The Dems are in no hurry. “No time to let down,” Wheeler thinks to himself. “There could be a surprise in the omnibus bill. Barton could sneak something in on resale. The Bells may try to pull a fast one on interconnect. Worse yet, Silva might call and badger me about WTR. Anything but that! Tell him something, anything,” Wheeler instructs trusted aide Barbara Grant. “I’m outta here.”
