Obama Names FCC Transition Team

President-Elect Picks Panel To Aid In New Agency Selections

(CNET)  President-elect Barack Obama's transition team on Friday announced who will lead the transition project's review of the Federal Communications Commission, the office of the United States Trade Representative, and a number of other agencies, departments, and executive offices.

The new team members will review the agencies and offices to aid the new administration in its planning decisions. Obama's transition group first announced the formation of the teams on Wednesday.

Susan Crawford, a communications law and Internet law professor at the University of Michigan, is a leader of the FCC review team. Crawford was until recently on the ICANN board of directors. Kevin Werbach, an assistant professor of legal studies and business ethics at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, is the other FCC review team lead. Werbach organizes the annual Supernova technology conference and formerly served as counsel for new technology policy at the FCC.

Jim Kohlenberger, who served as senior domestic policy adviser to Vice President Al Gore and helped pass the Telecommunications Act of 1996, is a leader of the National Science Foundation review team. He is executive director of the Voice on the Net Coalition, which represents the voice over IP industry, and is a senior fellow at the Benton Foundation, which aims to ensure media and telecommunications serve democracy.

Henry Rivera, who represents the telecommunications sector for the firm Wiley Rein, is the other National Science Foundation review team leader. Rivera served as an FCC commissioner and is a past president of the Federal Communications Bar Association.

Anna Gomez, vice president of government affairs for Sprint Nextel, is a leader of the United States Trade Representative review team. Gomez served as senior legal adviser to FCC Chairman Bill Kennard and held a number of other positions in the FCC, including chief of the network services division. She also briefly served as counsel to the Senate Commerce Committee's telecommunications subcommittee.

Peter Cowhey, the other leader of the United States Trade Representative review team, served as chief of the FCC's international bureau and is now associate vice chancellor and dean of the School of International Relations and Pacific Studies at the University of California, San Diego.

Christopher Putala, who will lead the reviewal of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, previously served as senior staff to Vice President-elect Joe Biden on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Putala was executive vice president for public policy at EarthLink, an Internet service provider, from 2005 to 2007, and was vice president for congressional relations at CTIA, the wireless trade association.

A number of other advisers named Friday have experience or expertise in telecommunications and other technology sectors. For instance, Susan Ness, who leads the Federal Trade Commission review team, is a former FCC commissioner. Gloria Parker, who is leading the National Archives and Records Administration review team, was the Department of Housing and Urban Development's first chief information officer and is a director at the Computer Sciences Corporation.

Updated November 16 to correct Mr. Werbach's name, which is Kevin, not Ken.

[sandycat2]

In other words, Obama wants applicants for jobs he is offering in his adminstration to tell everything they have ever said, e-mailed, done and dreamed since birth before he will "honor" them with a job. It''s more than he "honored" the American voters with when he ran for President. He didn''t tell us about his association with terrorist Bill Ayres or radical and rascist preacher Rev Wright, did he? Why should Americans have to give him more than he gave us. What a hypocrite.

[erich_1-2009]

President Elect Obama''s Job Application to become President

1st Question:

Place of Birth - ? - www.obamacrimes.com

[incog-nito]

Know what this means? It means every poster on CBS or any other news site can never get a job in the Obama administration. How are people ever going to document all their posts? Obama better put a stop to this quick, or he''ll be losing supporters real fast.

[hammy06]

This has nothing to do with infringing on rights, it''s about protecting his administration from valid attack by the opposition. Note the valid part of that, this doesn''t mean the crazy stuff being commented on by those who didn''t vote for him.

[darrren12000]

the link to the application had only 7 pages -- not 9 as the article states..and i could not isolate the exact language the article quotes. did i skip some text?

[differnet]

Notice the derth of response from the Obama supporters? Wow! This must be upsetting their safe little world view. Their annointed one was a believer in openess and a free internet and suddenly he wasnts to be able to review all their thoughts and interactions. If you had listened and read carefully during the campaigns, you might have noticed this coming.

[shortestfuse]

''A nine-page questionnaire requires applicants to list -- and if possible, provide copies of -- all "posts or comments on blogs or other Web sites" they have ever made. Also required are "aliases" or nicknames used on those sites.''

Wow - that''s more than they asked Obama when they asked him to run for President.

[inketolstoy]

He hires a guy who screams obscenities at other politicians (Okay, I do that too, just not when anyone else is around) but he wants to check your postings. Well, I guess we wanted change, nobody mentioned good change.

[sincity_q]

This takes the term ''Big Brother'' to a whole new level...

[specialty8]

This is one of the most absurb things a President has ever done and he is not even in office yet.I bet the choosen one has a team monitering all of these web sites to see who is in and who is out. Remember Hitler set up the SS for about the same purpose.

[FHMullane]

Would you rather he not worry about who he hires and appoints? We are involved in two wars. It is very possible that our enemies are attempting to infiltrate our Government at the highest levels. I appreciate the fact that he is being this careful. We deserve top notch loyal people!!!

As for the guns... I think he backed off his 1996 opinion. If not then we, the people, have to let him know we do not want to ban guns and that includes weapons for self protection. Look what Chaney did with a hunting gun!!!

It isn''t the gun, but the person who is the problem. But I supposed first you need to know who has the guns.

Stop micromanaging the guy. He won by a large margin... let''s see what he does.

[old300d]

T.U.C.C. had to change much on their website. They removed alot of stuff because Obama was running for president. They removed many of their YouTube videos also !

Obama tends to cause people to edit their stuff ! ! !

[shortestfuse]

I''m waiting to see what Obama is forced to disclose before the Supreme Court when the matter of his citizenship is heard.

[old300d]

Rev. Wright used to say what ever he wanted. Now he can''t.

Freedom of speech ? ? ?

[old300d]

Before Obama ran for president Rev. Wright was G.D. this and G.D. that.

Now he has to shut it up ! ! !

Freedom of speech ? ? ?

[sandycat2]

fhmullane, Is your comment a joke? Obama infiltrated our government cause his supporters swooned over him and didn''t check out his resume. Obama is the Manchurion Candidate.

[old300d]

I think Rev. Wright should be allowed to say what is on his mind ! ! !

Freedom of speech and all ! ! !

[old300d]

The religious left needs to speak out and say what they feel ! ! !

Freedom of speech and all ! ! !

[specialty8]

CBSisPravda,
Yes I understand what you are saying.I read an artical on one news channel and one congressman was very concerned about this so called natioal security force.Like the man said, Hitler was elected into a democratic society and did the same thing.We all must stand firm to keep this from happening.

[shortestfuse]

If Obama tried to get a job with the FBI or CIA, he would never pass the security clearance (funny how being under contract with the equivalent of the American Communist Party can cause some to frown on your credentials, let alone having a pal who set of bombs). I wonder how they feel now when they have to give him security briefings.

[erasmus81]

"Know what this means? It means every poster on CBS or any other news site can never get a job in the Obama administration."

Posted by incog-nito at 03:23 PM : Nov 14, 2008

D*mn! And I was so hoping.

Some of my posts ain''t pretty.:)

[differnet]

Would you rather he not worry about who he hires and appoints? We are involved in two wars. It is very possible that our enemies are attempting to infiltrate our Government at the highest levels. I appreciate the fact that he is being this careful. We deserve top notch loyal people!!!

As for the guns... I think he backed off his 1996 opinion. If not then we, the people, have to let him know we do not want to ban guns and that includes weapons for self protection. Look what Chaney did with a hunting gun!!!

It isn''''t the gun, but the person who is the problem. But I supposed first you need to know who has the guns.

Stop micromanaging the guy. He won by a large margin... let''''s see what he does.


Posted by fhmullane at 03:43 PM : Nov 14, 2008


Two percent of the popular vote is hardly a "large margin." Bush tried to say he had a mandate with 1% of the vote and that went over like a lead balloon. I suggest you stop stealing lines from GW.

Second, this country can walk and chew gum at the same time. We can even deal with 2 wars and watch how our government is run. Remember 48% of the people voted against Obama. They have a voice in this country too.

[sincity_q]

@CBSNews53

Most today lean towards the implanted chip as the mark of the beast. It would serve a good purpose in that every man, woman and child would have a citizen bank account that would then be accessed by waving your hand under a sensor. The chip could be, also, implanted in the forhead and merely walking out of walmart, your account would be debited.

Now, how do you get 300 Million wary Americans to sign up for something so obvious? You pay them to.

Call it a stimulous package but the catch is, to acess that money they want to give you, you''ll have to get the beast chip. And if the sum is larger than the paltry $600 we saw last time... say, maybe $6000 (or even $60,000), you''d have a line a mile long at every implant station.

It could work.

[rudy6543]

Sorry, Obama. But asking someone to keep tabs on all their communication to report it to you is a no-no. I hope to see this corrected soon.

[myhog6]

Obama is invading privacy of applicants in violation of Federal Laws.

Web-postings
All resumes over the last 10 years
Do you own guns? Provide registration numbers.
Name all partners..
Name all affiliations (Ayers, et al)..
Name friends who own guns ...

Basically he has set aside the Second Amendment on Guns, and oversteps his authority in requesting information that invades an individual''s privacy.

Freedom of Press, Freedom of Speech appear violated by this President-Elect when requesting all information about anonymous web-postings (i.e., ambiguous name used to maintain privacy rights).

It is shameful that a lawyer would violate Federal Laws in such a manner. His questionaire needs to be reviewed by the US Attorney General (either the current one or the one he appoints).

I see a likely cause for Impeachment the second he implements his Administration hiring using the Questionaire that violates a US Citizen''s rights.

He has gone way over the edge ...............

[bb543]

He wouldn''t even be considered for a position
with many states because of his crack cocaine use.


"If Obama tried to get a job with the FBI or CIA, he would never pass the security clearance (funny how being under contract with the equivalent of the American Communist Party can cause some to frown on your credentials, let alone having a pal who set of bombs). I wonder how they feel now when they have to give him security briefings."

[jediservant]

Most today lean towards the implanted chip as the mark of the beast.....Posted by sincity_q

Not a chance, the mark of the beast is about worship but the implant may be a tool to enforce who can buy and sell.

[inventagod2]

No thanks, Obama - I already have a job.

Whoever set this requirement is an idiot, and I hope he/she is fired.

[yongamerica]

Some of these questions bear asking as long as they pertain to a persons political opinions. But to go beyond that into a personal lifestyle, including gun ownership raises a big RED FLAG.

[yongamerica]

"This year will go down in history. For the first time, a civilized nation has full gun registration. Our street will be safer, our police more efficient, and the world will follow our lead into the future!" Adolf Hitler, 1935

[specialty8]

Lets face ,this country has elected some guy who has never ran a car wash.All you hear is Obamas plan for America.I think we are just seeing the beginning of this plan.We need to watch very closly at what is being done because they are going to test us and see just how far they can go before the real plan comes into effect.

[sickofleft]

Who the hell would want to work for Castro or Hitler?? Unbelievable. Everyone around him has to be transparent, but HE doesn''t have to be. We still don''t know s**t about the a**, and all the wickedness about him is hidden by the MAIN STREAM MEDIA. They protect him, yet no one around him is protected. This is MAFIA BULLS**T !! He and his "Al Capone" buddy Rahm Emanuel can go to h*ll!

[tomflint69]

Only criminals will worry. I am a fair, nice guy. O.K I will give Obama whatever he''ll ask (except my d***. That belongs to my wife).

[sickofleft]

I am going to enjoy watching those who voted for this nut case learn all that the main stream media has hidden from them. By the time it''s over, everyone who wanted this guy elected is going to be crying for him to be out of office. I can''t wait for the tears. The S**T media is going to suffer. Can''t wait for it to happen!!

[marshall65]

The questionnaire and background check are perfectly fine. Only a dork would be concerned with it. Come to think of it, the news this morning concerning vote analysis stated that McCain''s supporters were primarily uneducated or of lower education. That would explain the big to do over nothing.

[specialty8]

Hey guys, we better tone it down a little. We are probley being watched right at this moment.Good thing the choosen ones National Security Force isn''t up and running yet.

[sfarves]

If you get any job in the Government -you will be required to get a backbround security and drug test (period). If someone were to get a job in the Obama Administration and latter was found out to be an enemy of the US, then how would that reflect on his judgement and administration. As a Government employee, it is now customary to get the check. Pleae be educated and let''s not show our ignorance about of the Federal Government process works.

[credibility2]

Any insinuation by the media as to a lack of education in the McCain camp was related to digital savvy. The inference that Repubs aren''t well educated seems ironic, since a rather large ethnic block voted for Obama, and I''m sure all of them are highly educated.

[socialismsux]

You couldn''t pay me any amount of money in the world to work for Obama.

[credibility2]

It was pointed out before the election that with many of Obama''s peculiar alliances with radicals and extremists, that he would have never qualified for a government security clearance. Ironic that Obama wants extraordinary scrutiny, yet those voting for him looked the other way and gave him a pass. His new administration should give all job applicants the same type of pass. After all things happen in one''s past that necessarily indicative of one''s present. Right? Right!

[sickofleft]

BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA....I know you or your staff read these posts. When you are ready to be TRANSPARENT YOURSELF, you can ask for your staff to be the same. Who do you think you are??? I hate to bring you to reality, but you are NOT the Messiah!!! You are nothing but a little pip-squeak, power-hungry ***. Guess what? This is NOT Germany or Cuba or China or Russia. The American people will NOT stand for too much of your sh**. You will find your *** impeached so fast you wouldn''t even know you had been elected. BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA, I am going to enjoy my free speech until you try to take it. You will NOT change our Constitution. You will NOT make this nation a SOCIALIST one. You only have as much power as the American people give you; and believe me...they will make sure it is limited!! You want to come after me, you sorry *** little b******? I''m waiting for you!

[specialty8]

sfarves,
That may be true, so how did Obama pass the drug and security test?

[socialismsux]

we are being watched right now...thanks to your boy georgie...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by dltgold at 04:25 PM : Nov 14, 2008

Give me a break dummy. The government has had the capability of watching people for quite some time now, long before Bush. You just can''t get over your Bush derangement syndrome because your life is so miserable that you have to blame everyone else for your shortfalls.

That''s why you''re hoping Obama will "Save" you from your miseries.

[sjbj2322]

And to think....Republicans repeatedly accuse Obama and Democrats of wanting larger government. Well this one should nip that in the bud. How many people who are computer savvy realistically do this. Oops - wait....gotta go add this one to my ongoing list of all my published comments. WRONG!

[rudy6543]

At any rate, how can they force someone to make a copy of everything they ever posted? Regardless of what the application asks for, there is simply no way to enforce that said applicant tell the truth, let alone post any and all comments ever posted.

[drsuz]

This is a joke, right!?!?!

[socialismsux]

The reason Obama wants to see what everyone has been blogging about and what their myspace, youtube, and other personal pages say is because he wants to ensure that those who work for him are not utilizing their First Amendment rights to speak out against him.

Scrutinization of him equals punishment under his dictatorship, more to come.

[sjbj2322]

By the way....Does this include every text message including those to tell my spouse what to pick up at the grocery store? How about emails I''ve sent to acknowledge birthdays, anniversaries, etc. How does one go about retrieving stuff that''s been deleted years ago. Anybody know if Big Brother has copies. I need help here!!!

[rudy6543]

I might be wrong, but I do believe that an employer is not free to ask just any question. For example, an employer cannot ask about how many children one has, or even what one''s religion is. They very question is considered reasons to discriminate. Obama might want to re-check those questions.

[credibility2]

The Obama Administration will be more intrusive and free-speech restricted than any other president, including our current one. His party is already discussing re-introducing the "fairness doctrine" to curtail dissenting free speech on talk radio. The left wants to totally control all forms of media, not just the ones they already do: motion pictures, cable, television, most print mediums, etc. This is how extremist despotic dictators controlled their subjects (Saddam Hussein, Karl Marx, Lenin, Hitler, etc.).