Enfenestration

It's official: the filing window dates have been released.  The window opens January 9th and closes March 26th.  The good news: that's the latest window closing ever.  They could have pushed it up a week and still been within the range of previous window lengths, so it seems like someone wanted to push the close date later, which is great.

I had thought we were waiting on OMB to approve the new Form 471, but the 470 and 471 are both still waiting for approval, so it appears that USAC is pushing ahead, counting on OMB to get it done in time..

Here is my annual table showing dates for the release of the ESL and the window:

FY	ESL release	Window open	60 days?	Window close	Window days
2005	10/14/2004	12/14/2004	61	2/17/2005	65
2006	11/22/2005	12/6/2005	14	2/16/2006	72
2007	10/19/2006	11/14/2006	26	2/7/2007	85
2008	10/19/2007	11/7/2007	19	2/7/2008	92
2009	11/21/2008	12/2/2008	11	2/12/2009	72
2010	12/2/2009	12/3/2009	1	2/11/2010	70
2011	12/6/2010	1/11/2011	36	3/24/2011	72
2012	9/28/2011	1/9/2012	103	3/20/2012	71
2013	9/27/2012	12/12/2012	76	3/14/2013	92
2014	10/22/13	1/9/2014	79	3/26/2014	77

Once again, the FCC has followed its own rule requiring that the ESL be released at least 60 days before the opening of the window.  This could get to be a habit.

Wobbly Wheeler

In a recent Bloomberg interview, new FCC Chairman Wheeler downplayed the importance of his telecom lobbying, saying it was a long time ago.  OK, but Chairman Wheeler, that is the only experience that qualifies you to run the FCC.  Then I think he took a better tack, saying that he would now represent the American people instead of the cable or wireless industry companies.

I was a bit alarmed by the lobbying, as was Senator Rockefeller, but if we want Commissioners who have relevant experience, we're going to get people who have worked for one or more of the interested parties in matters before the FCC.  Unless we choose only government employees, which doesn't strike me as a good idea.

Let's hope we get a situation like Nixon going to China; someone close to the industry lobby will be able to make strong consumer-friendly reforms.

One thing's for sure: Chairman Wheeler makes it easy for me to come up with stupid puns for the titles of my blog posts.