FCC Chairman Says He Will Stay at Least Until Presidential Election
By David Ho Associated Press Writer
Published: Sep 23, 2003
WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell, under fire for his handling of media ownership rules, on Tuesday dismissed reports that he will quit.
"I intend to stay and lead the commission until the end of the president's administration," Powell told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. Asked if he would stay if President Bush is re-elected, Powell said he would stay "at least until the election and we'll see what the results of the election are."
Powell succeeded in getting the Republican-dominated FCC to ease decades-old rules governing ownership of newspapers and television and radio stations. The 3-2 party-line vote on June 2 approved changes that allow individual companies to own TV stations reaching nearly half the nation's viewers and combinations of newspapers and broadcast outlets in the same community. (snip)
(snip) Powell, a champion of deregulation who critics say is too pro-big business, rose from commissioner to chairman when Bush took office in 2001. His term isn't over until 2007. (snip/...)
http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAOHW0LYKD.html