(Kevin) Martin reportedly to be named next FCC chairman

http://cbs.marketwatch.com/news/newsfinder/pulseone.asp?dateid=38427.4950274537-833220850&siteID=mktw&scid=0&doctype=806&

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- The White House is expected to elevate Kevin Martin to the chairmanship of the Federal Communications Commission, according to a report Wednesday in The Wall Street Journal. Martin, already an FCC commissioner, has close ties to President Bush and Vice President Cheney and was widely viewed as the frontrunner to replace the departing Michael Powell. Altough he clashed with Powell on several occasions and joined the Democrats on a few key votes, Martin largely pursued a free-market approach favored by the White House. Martin does not need Senate approval because he's already serving on the FCC commission.

...very short newsblurb...

Allow me a QST--

What is his stand on BPL and spectrum protection? These are critical issues for my constituency.


73's

being a ham radio operator and short wave listener,
I am concerned about the spectrum pollution that BPL might cause.

Unfortunately, it looks as if the FCC has already given them the green light.

73s

Could this guy look any more like a repuke?



A little info about him:

Prior to joining the Bush Administration, Mr. Martin served as a principle technology and telecommunications advisor on the Bush-Cheney Transition team. He assumed this role after serving as the Deputy General Counsel to the Bush campaign in Austin, Texas from July 1999 through December 2000.

Mr. Martin is not new to the Federal Communications Commission. From 1997 to 1999, he served as a Legal Advisor to FCC Commissioner Harold Furchtgott-Roth, advising the Commissioner on telecommunications and broadband issues. Mr. Martin had previously served in the Office of the Independent Counsel following several years of work in private practice at the Washington, DC law firm of Wiley, Rein & Fielding. While at Wiley, Rein & Fielding, he worked on communications, legislative, and appellate litigation matters. Before joining Wiley, Rein & Fielding, Martin was a law clerk for United States Court District Judge William M. Hoeveler in Miami, Florida.

http://www.fcc.gov/commissioners/martin/biography.html

Another stunningly independent appointment sure to be looking out for all of our bests interests...

:eyes:

Powell's replacement also a deregulator
Numerous news outlets report that current commissioner Kevin Martin will be the next FCC chairman, with a formal announcement coming this afternoon. While Powell and Martin have shared a desire to deregulate telecom and embrace "free market" concepts, they've sometimes battled over the speed at which this should be accomplished. Martin is in essence a more politically savvy version of Powell with perhaps a dash more consumer advocacy in his blood.
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&ie=UTF-8&q=%22kevin+martin&scoring=d

Ok, who is he and is he going to be good for small biz (media and teleco) at all? Is he hung up on seeing tities like Powel? Im googleing away..

The day the chimp and his pals put anybody who has any influence
on not having corporate controlled, ind. news blackout, media is the
day Bush had a brain seizure. This is there #1, use of the media
to control society and thus achieve things like having the people
silent while our congress votes to screw poor people on getting
out of their debt or give their jobs away overseas and on and on and on.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2003/0304.whoswho.html

snip


Much of Washington is puzzling over the mysterious behavior of Kevin J. Martin, a Republican member of the Federal Communications Commission. In February, Martin voted with Democratic members to block a major effort to "deregulate" (i.e. enhance the monopoly power of) local phone companies. The "deregulation" plan was the centerpiece of FCC Chairman Michael Powell's sweeping new agenda for the telecommunications industry. Powell--son of Colin Powell--is so infuriated that some close observers think he may resign.

So why did Martin do it? After all, he's a handpicked George W. Bush loyalist who's tight with the vice president's office--his wife, Catherine Jurgensmeyer Martin, is Dick Cheney's chief of staff.And the White House itself seemed to back the "deregulation" plan that would have helped the Baby Bells, and, in turn, GOP fundraising efforts. One theory is that the White House no longer believes in shoveling favors to giant corporations (OK, it's just a theory!). Another is that Martin is an honest man. A third is that Martin is acting at the behest of Cheney to spite his archenemy, Colin Powell.


so what is "Scooter" Libby doing then? BTW.. this is the only info. on Mrs. Martin - why so little info.??

A little quid quo pro going on?

From Common Dreams
www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0210-01.htm

snip

One set of documents that prosecutors repeatedly referred to in their meetings with White House aides are extensive notes compiled by I. Lewis Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff and national security adviser. Prosecutors have described the notes as "copious," the lawyers said. In addition, the prosecutors have asked about cellphone calls made last July to and from Catherine J. Martin, a press secretary for Mr. Cheney.

In their discussions with White House aides, prosecutors have been careful to avoid signaling their overall theory of the case. Nor have they given hints about who they suspect leaked the information to Robert Novak, who wrote in a Washington Post column last July 14 that the wife of former Ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV, a critic of the administration's Iraq policy, was Valerie Plame, a C.I.A. undercover officer.


and of course, Mrs. Martin runs interference on Cheney's Halliburton dealings, etc.

http://www.gasandoil.com/goc/company/cnn31641.htm

snip

Cheney, through spokeswoman Cathie Martin, contends he has no financial ties to Halliburton because of an insurance policy he took out for the value of his deferred compensation, which means he’ll get paid even if the company goes under. ”He has no financial interest in the success of the company,” says Martin, who adds that Cheney has no say in awarding defence contracts. Indeed, Halliburton is not a finalist for a $ 600 mm reconstruction contract in Iraq.
But some Washington players are questioning the vice president’s ethics. Cheney should ”sever all financial ties to Halliburton,” says Larry Noble of the non-partisan Centre for Responsive Politics. ”I don’t think this passes the smell test.”