WASHINGTON-The Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association late Monday announced as expected that former Rep. Steve Largent (R-Okla.) will replace Thomas Wheeler as president and chief executive officer effective in November.
“After an exhaustive search, it became clear that Steve Largent was the right person for the job. As a result of his past House Commerce Committee experience, he has an appreciation for the complexity of telecommunications and the unique competitive nature of wireless,” said Scott Ford, CEO of Alltel Communications Inc. and CTIA chairman. “Steve has also demonstrated the ability to lead and build consensus in an environment that is rife with differing opinions. Steve clearly possesses the skills, energy and enthusiasm to be the wireless industry’s chief advocate.”
Largent last week confirmed first to RCR Wireless News that he was the leading candidate to replace Wheeler.
“Tom Wheeler is the gold standard when it comes to leading a trade association,” said Largent in a statement on Monday. “He leaves a large pair of shoes to fill.”
Largent left Congress in early 2002 to run for governor of Oklahoma, but lost. Largent now works as senior public policy consultant in the government affairs practice group of the Washington, D.C., law firm of Wiley Rein & Fielding.
In Congress, Largent was a member of the 1994 freshman class that gave the Republicans control of the House. It is these Republican ties that make him an attractive candidate to House Republican leaders, who have said they would like Republicans leading trade associations. He also served on the House telecom subcommittee.
Even those not familiar with politics have probably heard of Largent. He was a star NFL wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks. Largent was elected to the NFL Hall of Fame in 1995 after being selected as NFL Man of the Year in 1988 and was a member of seven Pro Bowl teams.
Although Largent was a member of the House telecommunications subcommittee, several industry sources were unable to point to any specific wireless legislation that he championed. He was against the leadership of the House Commerce Committee in the debate regarding broadband policy.
Reps. Billy Tauzin (R-La.) and John Dingell (D-Mich.), chairman and ranking member of the House Commerce Committee, authored legislation in the 107th Congress to relax obligations for incumbent local telephone companies regarding broadband and data services. The Tauzin-Dingell bill, as it was known, passed the House but did not pass the Senate. Largent’s objections to the bill so favored by Tauzin could be an obstacle for CTIA in the days to come, some sources have told RCR Wireless News.
Largent is a frequent motivational speaker. He graduated from the University of Tulsa. He is married and has four children.
