A staffer at Wiley Rein & Fielding is neither confirming nor denying a report that attorney and former Democratic FCC Commissioner Henry Rivera will be named by president-elect Barack Obama to head the FCC-focused portion of his transition team. Rivera served under Ronald Reagan in the Mark Fowler FCC. Rivera would be at least the third FCC 8th Floor denizen tied to the Obama operation, joining Reed Hundt and William Kennard in that capacity. Inquiries have thus far gotten us into Rivera’s voicemail.
RBR/TVBR observation: With major cabinet positions to be filled, the FCC is generally relegated into the afterthought category during a Washington transfer of power. To hear the FCC mentioned in the transition process within a couple of days of the election is amazing. If true, this could bring a premature end to an entire cottage industry focused on commissioner/chairman speculation.
