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Michael Powell to Leave FCC

Posted by michael on from the tenure-malfunction dept.

Anonymous Slashdotter writes "Michael Powell, chairman of the FCC, will be stepping down from his post soon. 'Powell, who maintained a light regulatory hand as the nation's chief media watchdog but collected some of the largest indecency fines against U.S. broadcasters, planned to issue a statement Friday but was not expected to hold a formal news conference, these officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.'"

5 of 409 comments (clear)

  1. I have a sinking feeling.... by tinrobot · · Score: 5, Insightful

    That his replacement will be even worse.

    Don't celebrate just yet.

  2. Vonage might not exist today w/o Powell. by stratjakt · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Last year, Powell repeatedly shielded VoIP services from intrusive government regulation and taxation. The FCC voted in February that Internet-only VoIP services were not subject to FCC oversight and expanded that view in November to protect VoIP from state regulators. ...

    "He let us go out and build this new thing without knowing all the issues beforehand," said Jeff Citron, chief executive of Vonage, the largest U.S. provider of Internet telephone services. "He helped the telephone industry transition from the old to the new world."

    Cellphone number portability, Do Not Call list, he's pushed hard to free up more spectrum for WiFi.

    But he's republican so let's focus on the stuff we don't like.

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    I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
  3. Re:I for one... by R2.0 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Funny, I heard it when it first happened. Powell sounded articulate and reasoned; Stern sounded like a buffoon. While what Powell was saying may still have been disagreeable, he didn't attack Stern personally, whereas that is all Stern did.

    Riveting? Hardly.

    --
    "As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly." A. Carlson
  4. Re:What does Howard Stern Say? by Marco_polo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Don't forget the bill that is sitting on presiden't desk. The one that will allow the FCC to fine 'individual radio personalities'. I'm all for moderate regulation of our airways, but going after the actors/DJ's is a dangerous precedent.

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    I am the lord of the pun. Dance Knave!
  5. Which is worse by adewolf · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Ok so which is worse nakid breast or some guy's head being chopped in. Personally I would rather my daughter see the breast than the chopped in head. The FCC seems perfectly happy with kids watching extreme violence but get's all disgruntled over band language (so what) or a nakid body part. Makes me wonder. Alex

    --
    "The Brady Bunch is back...working homicide"