[pessimizer]

We need a chairman of the FCC that is old enough that they'll retire afterwards. Nobody wants to be the one who pulls the trigger on common carrier because they all plan to work at telecom, cable companies, and radio networks after they step down.

Of course, there's still speaking fees.

[rayiner]

Tom Wheeler is 66. Before becoming FCC chairman, he was managing director at a VC fund that funded early stage companies. He has also founded several companies. He was also on the board of directors of EarthLink, which is a competitive ISP with interests adverse to the entrenched cable companies. Aside from a stint at NCTA in the 80's, long before they were in the IsP business, his business background is far more skewed in favor of Internet companies.