STALL ON GALLAGHER NOMINATION SAID HURTING EFFECTIVENESS
The Senate’s failure to confirm Acting NTIA Dir. Michael Gallagher is hurting his effectiveness, especially on international issues, Gallagher acknowledged Fri. in response to questions. Several former federal agency heads also have told us the failure of the Senate to act on the nomination is increasingly damaging Gallagher’s effectiveness.
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Communications Daily is required reading for senior executives at top telecom corporations, law firms, lobbying organizations, associations and government agencies (including the FCC). Join them today!
“We underestimate the impact of things like title and stature and the more honorary aspects of government, the impact they have abroad,” Gallagher said after a speech to the FCBA: “You trade at a discount when you are in an acting capacity rather than being in your fully confirmed state. There is a significance that foreign leaders ascribe to that that does have an impact on our ability to get our job done.”
Gallagher said the problem is the biggest he meets with counterparts from other major nations. “The difficulty comes from the larger, more-established counties, not so much the smaller ones,” he said. “Any audience they get with a senior government official, they feel very honored, very privileged… In the countries that have a longer relationship with our country, that have a bigger economy, that have more established bureaucracies around the issues we work with -- those are the ones where it has an impact.”
Gallagher said his acting status also is a factor when NTIA meets with other U.S. govt. agencies. “These are organizations that very much respond to leadership and the level of that leader,” he said: “Confirmed status is above where I am right now and you're able to achieve more.”
Other sources, including former agency heads, said the failure of the Senate to confirm Gallagher is a growing concern. Gallagher’s nomination is just one of many stuck in the Senate, the arena for a recurring battle between Democrats and Republicans over judicial nominations. Less controversial nominees like Gallagher can get caught in the crossfire.
“It’s a factor both abroad and in Washington,” one source said: “People tend to be status oriented. They want to know whether you're speaking with the blessing of the U.S. Congress or whether you're in a more-tenuous status.” The source noted that, other than in the spectrum arena, the NTIA dir. has little authority and mainly serves as an Administration spokesman on such issues as broadband. Not having confirmed status can detract from effectiveness in that role.
“Titles matter,” said a 2nd official who has represented the U.S. on spectrum issues: “That’s the diplomatic currency. People who are ambassadors talk to ambassadors. In many respects it’s putting on the individual the imprimatur of the country.” The source said not confirming Gallagher was unfair. He said the principle should be: “If somebody is asked to do the job then bestow upon them the full rights and title of the position.”
A 3rd source agreed acting status is a detriment for an NTIA dir. negotiating with foreign powers. “It is important for the U.S. for the person to have that title when they go to international meetings,” the former official said: “The title does matter. Protocol matters internationally.” The source said acting status can also affect an administrator’s relations with professional staff within the agency.