I heard from a career officer at the White House (directly from the officer, not a repeat), that just prior to the hostage situation, while they were warning Carter of what was going to happen in Iran if they didn’t support the Sha, Carter got strangely obsessed with radio frequecies of wireless microphones and whether certain frequencies should be released for civilian use.
Carter apparently got quiet excited about the whole wireless microphone thing, because a certified expert in the subject, and apparently made some bright decisions.
Of course, while he was off doing the FCC’s job, Iran fell and the hostages were taken.