President Obama walking into political minefield as he taps new FCC chairman

President Barack Obama is walking into a political minefield as he decides whom to nominate for chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. Industry groups, consumer advocates and Democrats are splintering over the contenders, putting President Obama in a bind as he narrows his short list for the powerful post.

"You're going to offend a whole lot of people no matter which way you go," one communications industry source said. It’s an important choice for President Obama, as the next chairman will face difficult decisions over how to provide enough airwaves for mobile devices, preserve the openness of the Internet and promote competition. Tom Wheeler, a venture capitalist and fundraiser for Obama, was considered the clear favorite for the job just last week. But then a coalition of public interest groups sent a letter to the president bashing him, and 37 senators signed a letter supporting an alternative pick: FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel. "Wheeler is still the front runner, but it isn't as secure as it was a week or two ago," another industry watcher said.