Wheeler isn't in the clear yet, of course. The 67 year old now faces a grilling by Senators over his past links to industry and his current outlook - any skeletons in his wiring closet will almost certainly be unearthed at this time too.

If and when he gets through that, it's going to be interesting.

Wheeler is actually an ex-cable and wireless industry lobbyist. You might take the view that this lends a poacher turned gamekeeper dynamic to the appointment.. but you might equally wonder whether ingrained industry insider habits of mind can be overcome to faithfully execute the reformist programme that Obama presumably wants to see go forward in his second term.