We Need an FCC Chief and We Need Him Now

[Commentary] Last week Congress delayed the confirmation hearings for Julius Genachowski, who was nominated as the new chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, until after the Memorial Day congressional recess. Apparently there's some political wrangling happening here because traditionally the Republican nominees are also in place for the confirmation hearings so the new FCC can get down to business right away. However, there are no Republican nominees yet, hence the delay. What, there isn't anyone as qualified as previous commissioner Deborah "I-issue-press-releases-about-the -sodium-content-in-canned-soups" Tate? If we all accept that broadband will be the platform for future innovation, then Washington is currently wasting time issuing decrees about the appropriate name for swine flu when it should be pushing for Republican nominees and getting a new FCC in place to start tackling some of these issues before we move further behind as a country.