Recently installed Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler continued to round out his staff this week, announcing a handful of new senior appointments.
Shannon Gilson was named communications director and head of the Office of Media Relations. Gilson joins the FCC having served in various senior communications positions in the White House, most recently as special assistant to the President and director of cabinet communications, and prior to that as communications director to the Domestic Policy Council.
Jonathan Chambers was named chief of the Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis. Chambers has been at the FCC since May 2012, first as senior advisor and then as acting chief of the Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis. Between 1987 and 1994, Chambers served as the Republican staff director of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation; legislative director for Senator John C. Danforth (R-Mo.); and as a professional staff member to the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.
Of perhaps more significance to the wireless industry, Wheeler also named Gary Epstein as special advisor to the chairman on incentive auctions and John Leibovitz as special advisor to the chairman for spectrum policy. Epstein has served as chair of the incentive auctions task force since joining the FCC in April 2012, and will also serve as special advisor to the chairman on incentive auctions. Leibovitz will
continue as deputy chief of the Wireless Bureau, a position he has held since 2009.
Earlier this month, Wheeler named a dozen staff members days after gaining delayed approval on his nomination to head the FCC. Wheeler had his nomination held up first by the recent government shutdown, and then later by Senator Ted Cruz (R. Texas) who finally relented on his opposition. Cruz, who was a prominent figure on the Republican side during the government shutdown, said he was delaying a vote on the Wheeler nomination in order to garner more information on Wheeler’s view of the DISCLOSE Act. That act was designed to provide greater transparency into campaign financing.
The FCC has a pretty full schedule of events on its agenda on top of its regular duties. The FCC has a trio of wireless spectrum auctions that are scheduled to be conducted next year, though most feel the 600 MHz incentive auction will likely be pushed back to at least early 2015. The FCC will also have to deal with a number merger and acquisition issues, including AT&T’s current attempt to acquire regional carrier Leap Wireless.
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