Heartland Institute Comments on Obama’s FCC Nominations

Published November 1, 2011

President Barack Obama on Monday nominated Democrat Jessica Rosenworcel and Republican Ajit Varadaraj Pai to replace Michael Copps and Meredith Baker Atwell, respectively, on the Federal Communications Commission.

The following statement from Bruce Edward Walker, a technology and telecommunications research fellow at The Heartland Institute – a free-market think tank – may be used for attribution.

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“The Federal Communications Commission under Julius Genachowski’s chairmanship, with the assistance of Commissioners Michael Copps and Mignon Clyburn, has been perhaps the most meddlesome and overreaching regime in recent memory. I’m hopeful that should the nominations of Rosenworcel and Pai proceed, both commissioners understand the real-world value of a light regulatory touch on the information technology and telecommunications industries.

“Further, it is hoped both individuals operate beyond the influence of such groups as Free Press and Public Knowledge – which would fetter technology innovations and investment as part of their respective organization’s statist agendas.”

Bruce Edward Walker
Managing Editor, InfoTech & Telecom News
The Heartland Institute
[email protected]


The Heartland Institute is a 27-year-old national nonprofit organization with offices in Chicago, Illinois; Washington, DC; Austin, Texas; Tallahassee, Florida; and Columbus, Ohio. Its mission is to discover, develop, and promote free-market solutions to social and economic problems. For more information, visit our Web site or call 312/377-4000.