Martin Dodging Difficult Calls Until Commissioners Named, Analysts Say
Chmn. Martin’s political instincts will mean the FCC tackles fewer controversial items in coming months as commissioner vacancies remain unfilled, analysts said Wed. at an FCBA brown bag lunch. Prospects are dim for quick appointments, as the White House focuses on potential nominees to the Supreme Court, where one or 2 seats could open up this summer, they said.
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“The FCC is the 3rd or 4th political tier down on the White House agenda,” said Rudolfo Baca of Precursor Group. “This White House is not focused on the FCC in contrast with the Clinton White House, where Gore virtually ran the FCC out of the vice presidency,” he said. Baca said he doubted the FCC will make a decision on media ownership rules (see related story) until the vacancies are filled, even though the agency is expected to open a rulemaking at the July 14 open meeting. Martin won’t take final action until he’s sure “he has the votes to pass it,” he said.
At the same time, Baca praised Martin’s speed and skill in dealing with the E-911 rules, which shows he can “quickly move when something needs to be done.” Others agreed, saying Martin’s political instincts improve on those of former FCC Chmn. Michael Powell, who was more focused on technology. “He [Martin] has the confidence of the White House, carrying out their broadband goals,” said Paul Glenchur of Stanford Washington Research Group. “He'll be a good chairman and he’s a respected entity on Wall Street.”
There was general agreement among analysts that a DTV transition bill will be completed this year, but prospects for a telecom rewrite are more remote, they said. The Brand X decision may slow the telecom rewrite, since the industry now has clarity on the definition of its services, eliminating the need to ask Congress for legislation, Baca said. “In 1996, everybody was pushing in the same direction and agreed that we needed to fix it and fix it now, but now it’s not the same. I don’t think we're going to get comprehensive reform unless everyone’s on the same page,” he said.
Susan Lynner of Prudential Financial sees a comprehensive bill as more likely than “discrete” issues, once there is movement on several of those issues, she said. Handling of the Universal Service Fund (USF) will be a key element in the rewrite, she added.