Pressure appears to now be off President Barack Obama to appoint the first woman as chair of thenFCC after Chairman Julius Genachowski leaves the agency. Obama on Monday nominated two morenwomen to prominent positions — Gina McCarthy as administrator of the EPA and Sylvia Mathews Burwellnto head the Office of Management and Budget, both cabinet-level appointments. Last week Obamandesignated Edith Ramirez as chair of the FTC. Numerous industry officials told us in recent days formernCTIA President Tom Wheeler has emerged as the consensus front runner for chairman, with Karen Kornbluh,nambassador to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the likely choice ifnWheeler’s nomination falters. NTIA Administrator Larry Strickling still remains in the mix, officials said.nA top communications lawyer said Wheeler does seem to be the likely choice. "I think there’s some legitimatenfeel [to the rumor] but sort of with the grain of salt it could just be head fakes," the lawyer said.n"I think there’s a lot less pressure now because [Obama] has appointed more women, there’s no questionnabout that," said another industry lawyer. Wheeler is the former president of NCTA and CTIA and currentnchairman of the FCC Technological Advisory Council. He became managing director of Core CapitalnPartners, a venture capital firm, after leaving the FCC advisory group and is widely considered to benclose to Genachowski. "Where, as here, the process is very secretive, there is a tendency to overdo thenpsychoanalysis," said communications lawyer Andrew Schwartzman. "Sure, having made a number ofnfemale appointments, there may be less pressure to appoint a woman to the FCC. But there are muchnmore important considerations at play, so that may not mean too much."
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