[ICOM] FW: ARLB003 FCC chairman resigns

[Cyrus Turner]

>
>FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell announced January 21 that he'll step
>down, effective ''sometime in March.'' Nominated by former President
>Bill Clinton, Powell joined the FCC in 1997 and became its chairman
>two days after President George Bush was sworn in for his first term
>in 2001. ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, called Powell's performance ''a
>deep disappointment'' after some initial optimism--especially given
>his unabashed cheerleading on behalf of the FCC's broadband over
>power line (BPL) initiative.
>
>''It's no secret that we thought Chairman Powell was going entirely
>in the wrong direction on BPL and dragging the other commissioners
>and FCC staff along--willing or not--because he was, after all, the
>chairman,'' Sumner said. ''A new chairman might be a chance for a
>fresh start.''
>
>When the FCC adopted new Part 15 rules for BPL last October, Powell
>called it ''a banner day.'' While conceding that BPL will affect some
>spectrum users, including ''all those wonderful Amateur Radio
>operators out there,'' Powell implied that the FCC must balance the
>benefits of BPL against the relative value of other licensed
>services. He listed the FCC's adoption of BPL rules among the
>''policy highlights'' of his tenure.
>
>Possibilities to replace Powell include the other Republican members
>of the five-member FCC--Kathleen Q. Abernathy, a staunch BPL
>supporter, and Kevin J. Martin. Speculation also has been raised
>about various outside candidates. ''We look forward to the
>opportunity to work with the new chairman, whoever that may be,''
>Sumner said.
>
>In his announcement, Powell said it was ''with a mixture of pride and
>regret'' that he informed the president of his decision to step down.
>''Having completed a bold and aggressive agenda, it is time for me to
>pursue other opportunities and let someone else take the reins of
>the agency,'' he said. ''During my tenure, we worked to get the law
>right in order to stimulate innovative technology that puts more
>power in the hands of the American people, giving them greater
>choices that enrich their lives.''
>
>The chairman said the seeds of the Commission's policies under his
>leadership ''are taking firm root in the marketplace and are starting
>to blossom.'' He cited the increased use of cell phones, digital TV
>and other digital technology ''increasingly connected anytime,
>anywhere by a wide variety of broadband networks.'' Proclaimed
>Powell, ''Our children will inherit this exciting future.''
>
>As FCC chairman, Powell also was in the forefront of enforcing the
>Commission's rules on indecency, largely through imposing huge fines
>on violators. He also supported changes in media ownership rules
>that permitted even greater concentration of broadcast station
>ownership.
>NNNN
>/EX

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