Get used to the acronym, ACMA, some time
in the next few months as it’s going to be THE regulatory hotseat in
the country, arguably surpassing the ACCC of Graeme Samuel and ASIC’s
Jeff Lucy.

And who will be the head of ACMA? Well, starting with the Financial Review on Friday (page 13), the exalted position of “Chair and Chief Executive” of the organisation was advertised.

For
those not in the media fast lane, ACMA was formed from the merger of
the Australian Broadcasting Authority and the Australian Communications
Authority. Its formal name is the Australian Communications and Media
Authority.

“It will be an independent statutory authority within
the Communications, Information, Technology and the Arts portfolio and
will regulate telecommunications, broadcasting, radio-communications,
online content and other functions as determined by Government,” says
the ad.

That means Senator Helen Coonan will be the relevant
minister and hasn’t she been doing her best recently to confuse about
what sort of regulation she really wants for Telstra that will not
undermine the sale process and price to her government.

The ad has the fascinating teases “Dynamic growth industry”, “Significant change agenda” and “substantial six figure package”.

And,
gee don’t you have to be superman: the position calls for “outstanding
track record of leadership in large and complex organisations and
exceptional skills in operational management, policy formulation and
business and financial management”.

So is this the post
retirement gig for Telstra’s booted CEO, Ziggy Switkowski, or something
Fred Hilmer, the lingering CEO at John Fairfax might fancy? Perhaps
Kerry O’Brien, or a Fairfax or News Ltd editor or two. Anyone from TV?

Nominations and gossip to boss@crikey.com.au