So Did Anything Actually Happen In Telecom In 2009? And What That Means for 2010

[Commentary] So 2010 turns out to be the year we will find out whether "data driven" actually goes anywhere, and how far. Because one consequence of delay has been that the incumbents who began 2009 in a state of quaking panic at the prospect of radical change have had time to regroup and rediscover their political courage. Also concerning is all this idea that "politics is the art of the possible" which appears to have become the guiding mantra of the Obama folks and Democrats generally. In contrast, Feld offers this: "Politics may be the art of the possible. But leadership is getting people to do what they previously thought was impossible — in unison." Not an easy task. But leadership, as opposed to simple management, is not easy. Bottom line, despite lots of hope for new beginnings and dramatic change, 2009 turned out to be the prologue rather than the pivot. It remains far too early to write off the Obama telecom initiatives at the FCC, NTIA, RUS, and elsewhere as fizzles or failures — as too many disappointed progressives have been eager to do since the beginning. At the same time, a lot of momentum progressives had coming into this year has dissipated in terms of pushing for more radical change. (12/31)