IP: re Hundt and FCC

[David Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

> =============================================================
> AOP Alert 97:09                         Tuesday, May 27, 1997
> =============================================================
>
> The following is a legislative alert from the Association of
> Online Professionals, the primary professional association of
> Internet Service Providers and other professionals who manage
> online services.
>
> Please give it the widest possible distribution.
>
> =============================================================
> Reed Hundt Resigns As FCC Chairman
> =============================================================
>
> FCC Chairman Reed Hundt announced today that he would resign
> that position, cutting short by a more than a year his
> expected tenure in the position.  Hundt was named Chairman by
> President Clinton on November 29, 1993 to a term that would have
> expired on June 30, 1998.
>
> Hundt gave as his reason a desire to spend more time with his
> family, and denied rumors that he would join the legal staff
> at Microsoft.
>
> Hundt has been a center of controversy in the past year for his
> handling of the Congressional mandate to deregulate the
> telecommunications industry and increase competition.  Key members of
> Congress had threatened to reopen Congressional consideration of the
> Telecommunications Act, and Senator John McCain (R-AZ) reportedly
> threatened to slash the FCC budget by 70 percent.
>
> Though Hundt was thought by many to be a friend of the online
> industry, his announced settlement with the telephone companies
> imposed significant new fees on any household or business with
> more than one telephone line.  In addition, his centerpiece
> program to spend $2.25 billion per year on affordable Internet
> access for schools and libraries was sharply criticized as
> more show than substance.  The actual cost of the wiring is
> estimated to be more than $100 billion.
>
> Hundt's resignation will mean a nearly complete change-out at the FCC
> this year.  Commissioner Andrew Barrett resigned late last year,
> giving the republicans a chance to place a more conservative member at
> the FCC. The Clinton administration will get to fill a second vacancy
> when James Quello retires this year. Both of these appointments are
> expected to be approved.
>
> However, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John McCain (R-AZ)
> placed a third seat into contention on February 11 when he
> suggested that Rachelle Chong should step aside when her term
> expires on June 30.  Normally, commissioners are re-nominated
> automatically if they wish to stay on and have not created any
> major enemies.  McCain wishes to see her seat filled by Michael
> Powell, a Justice Department attorney and the son of retired
> general Colin Powell.
>
> President Clinton today announced the nomination of William
> Kennard and Harold Furchtgott-Roth to the FCC board of
> commissioners. Powell is likely to also be nominated.  There
> is no word on a replacement for Reed Hundt.
>
>
> ***************************************************
> Assn of Online Professionals   (703) 924-5800 Voice
> 6096 Franconia Rd., Suite D      (703) 924-5801 Fax
> Alexandria, VA 22310             http://www.aop.org
> **************************************************



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