* Wheeler promises pro-competitive FCC
* Complex auction of radio airwaves looms
* Public interest advocate tapped for key FCC post
By Alina Selyukh
WASHINGTON, Nov 5 (Reuters) - A fresh era started at the U.S. Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday with a 30-minute speech to staff by the agency's new chief, who promised a more current and more nimble regulatory body.
"The industries with which we work are always taking reasonable risks; I hope we won't shy away from a similar approach," FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said in his first public comments since sworn into office a day earlier.
The new regulator, a Democrat and industry veteran, called the FCC an "optimism agency" and promised a pro-competition approach that fosters innovation, helps along the revolutionary transition of networks but continues to protect consumers.
One of his first orders of business: a "crowdsourced" review of proposals put forward by FCC commissioners and staff, lawmakers and other stakeholders aimed at upgrading and improving outdated regulations or cumbersome procedures.
"As networks change, those charged with the responsibility of overseeing those networks must also evolve," Wheeler said in the speech that was later posted as a blog titled "A New Day at the FCC: Perspectives, Challenges, and Opportunities."
Telecommunications stakeholders - industry and watchdogs alike - have put a lot of hopes on Wheeler to provide strong-willed and pragmatic leadership to the five-member commission that oversees radio, television, cable and wireless industries.
Wheeler is a close ally of President Barack Obama and in the past lobbied for cable and wireless industries.
Wheeler's predecessor Julius Genachowski has been criticized for seeking consensus at the expense of completing practical solutions. Many tasks are now left for the new chair to resolve, such as the 2010 quadrennial review of rules that restrict who can own media outlets.
Wheeler, 67, will also have to take on perhaps the most challenging assignment the agency has faced in decades: a complex sale of radio airwaves now occupied by TV stations to wireless service providers, planned for 2015.
After Genachowski left in May, the FCC stayed active and moved quickly under acting Chair Mignon Clyburn on consumer-oriented issues such as lowering of prison phone rates.
But progress stalled on writing the rules for the auction, a critical business opportunity for top U.S. wireless companies Verizon Communications Inc, AT&T Inc, Sprint Corp and Deutsche Telecom AG's T-Mobile as well as the broadcaster community and other companies such as Dish Network Corp hoping to buy more spectrum.