[opendtv] News: L.A. Times: Powell May Leave FCC This Winter
- From: Craig Birkmaier <craig@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: OpenDTV Mail List <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2004 10:16:10 -0400
Video Radio Ink
L.A. Times: Powell May Leave FCC This Winter
The Los Angeles Times says that lobbyists for media and
telecommunications companies are rushing to get their "pet issues" on
the FCC's agenda, indicating a prediction that FCC Chairman Michael
Powell may step down this winter. To make matters interesting, the
Times also says that two additional commissioners-Republicans Kevin
Martin and Kathleen Abernathy-also are considering leaving.
Powell has denied that he has any plans to leave his post, but he
recently prepared a six-month strategy for resolving the
controversial media ownership, indecency and telephone competition
issues that have a few telecommunications squirming.
Tom Tauke, the top lobbyist for Verizon Communications, told the
Times that the company was pressing to have telephone competition
rules rewritten this year, fearing that a new lineup of FCC
commissioners might take a tougher stance against the companies that
own most of the country's local telephone lines.
John Nakahata, a Washington lawyer who represents telephone as well
as cable clients, said he also was moving fast. "If there's only four
people there, it's harder to get to three votes," he said.
FCC spokesman David Fiske noted that, "at some point after three
years as a commissioner and four years as chairman, it's time to move
on. But I don't want to create the impression that anything's
imminent. We'll see what happens after the election."
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