Chairman Rockefeller concerned by lobbying past of FCC front-runner

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) expressed concern about the possible nomination of Tom Wheeler, a former lobbyist, to head the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), saying Wheeler's history as a lobbyist for the cable and cellphone industries is cause for a "little bit" of concern. "A lobbyist is a lobbyist," Chairman Rockefeller said in a brief conversation with reporters in the Capitol. "He's been lobbying for some of the things he'd be making decisions on." When asked whether Wheeler would be a bad choice to lead the FCC, Chairman Rockefeller responded, "Don't ask me that question."