Wheeler likely to address spectrum auctions, IP transition at confirmation hearing

Tom Wheeler, the former CTIA chief President Obama has nominated to lead the FCC, will face his Senate confirmation hearing tomorrow, and he is likely to be questioned on the agency's plans to implement incentive auctions of broadcast TV spectrum next year, among many other issues. According to a Republican staff memo for his upcoming hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee, Wheeler is likely going to touch on the inventive auctions, the transition from circuit-switched networks to IP networks and expanding broadband access. Republicans are concerned the FCC will craft auction rules that will limit the amount of spectrum that AT&T Mobility (NYSE:T) and Verizon Wireless (NYSE:VZ) can acquire in the upcoming auction, and will likely ask about Wheeler's views on how the auction rules should be crafted. Wheeler, who has spent the past several years as a venture capitalist, will also likely be grilled on his views regarding mergers and acquisitions and competition in the wireless industry. Article