[South Florida DX Association] ARLB003 FCC chairman resigns

[Bill Marx]

> SB QST @ ARL $ARLB003
> ARLB003 FCC chairman resigns
> 
> ZCZC AG03
> QST de W1AW  
> ARRL Bulletin 3  ARLB003
> From ARRL Headquarters  
> Newington CT  January 21, 2005
> To all radio amateurs 
> 
> SB QST ARL ARLB003
> ARLB003 FCC chairman resigns
> 
> 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
>