Mixed legacy for FCC's Powell

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seemed to support the chairman in principle but not in practice. Democratic Party activists and politicians opposed easing the rules, arguing that individual corporations would be able to own too many TV and radio stations.

Open-source activists and members of the free-software community bitterly objected to the FCC's decision in 2003, supported by Powell, to impose a "broadcast flag" that takes effect in mid-2005. At that time, it will become illegal to sell or distribute any product that can receive certain digital TV streams--unless it includes government-approved copy protection.

In a lawsuit before a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., advocacy group Public Knowledge is challenging the FCC's authority to levy the broadcast flag rule. It will impose serious "constraints on the design of consumer-electronics and computer products--limitations that will diminish interoperability between new products and old ones," the group says.

Kyle Dixon, a senior fellow at the Progress and Freedom Foundation and former Powell aide, said his former boss "led the charge in promoting investment and innovation in Wi-Fi and wireless, Internet voice, broadband and other technologies that became critical to consumers and the economy."

Powell, a Republican, is the son of outgoing Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Excuse me...

...it's time for dancin' in the halls!

Could this finally be the end of broadband's cost & competition spiral in the U.S.?

Excuse me...

...it's time for dancin' in the halls!

Could this finally be the end of broadband's cost & competition spiral in the U.S.?

[fgoldstein]

Wait for the replacment

His replacement hasn't been named yet. Things can get a lot worse! Last fall there was a lot of talk about it going to Becky Armendriz Klein, former chair of the Texas PUC. She makes Powell look like a real liberal pro-competition guy. (Sort of like making Rumsfeld look like a dove.)

[fgoldstein]

Wait for the replacment

His replacement hasn't been named yet. Things can get a lot worse! Last fall there was a lot of talk about it going to Becky Armendriz Klein, former chair of the Texas PUC. She makes Powell look like a real liberal pro-competition guy. (Sort of like making Rumsfeld look like a dove.)

[Stating]

Telecom Oligolopy

As Mr. Powell's reign comes to a close, here's his record:

1) Fewer cell phone carriers, poor connection quality

2) Rise of mega-carriers

3) Move to lock customers into 2 year term contracts

4) Bundling of services to further lock customers in

Take a look at carriers like SBC. They now bundle local phone service, long distance, broadband (DSL & dish), and cell. This is the kind of bundling that landed IBM in court for anti-trust. That was back when governemnt actually thought trusts were bad. Nowdays, the government never saw a trust they didn't like.

The choices for broadband are few, and the price is high. After the teaser rates, it's between $40-$60 a month. My "choices" consist of SBC, Comcast, or Dish.

Where is the new competition? With advancing technology we should be seeing more new players, not fewer. The mega-players have a lock on the last mile. I cannot circumvent them to get broadband or cell. I have lots of choices for content, but not for the delivery of the content. Which results in continuing upward price pressure, complicated contracts, and high termination penalties. This is NOT progress.

[Stating]

Telecom Oligolopy

As Mr. Powell's reign comes to a close, here's his record:

1) Fewer cell phone carriers, poor connection quality

2) Rise of mega-carriers

3) Move to lock customers into 2 year term contracts

4) Bundling of services to further lock customers in

Take a look at carriers like SBC. They now bundle local phone service, long distance, broadband (DSL & dish), and cell. This is the kind of bundling that landed IBM in court for anti-trust. That was back when governemnt actually thought trusts were bad. Nowdays, the government never saw a trust they didn't like.

The choices for broadband are few, and the price is high. After the teaser rates, it's between $40-$60 a month. My "choices" consist of SBC, Comcast, or Dish.

Where is the new competition? With advancing technology we should be seeing more new players, not fewer. The mega-players have a lock on the last mile. I cannot circumvent them to get broadband or cell. I have lots of choices for content, but not for the delivery of the content. Which results in continuing upward price pressure, complicated contracts, and high termination penalties. This is NOT progress.

[topio]

Is he leaving the administration because of the resignation of his dad?

I wonder If anybody has heard about this being the main reason for him leaving

I've got to believe that has something to do with it.

My understanding is that the elder Powell was starting to lose status with our current administration.

[topio]

Is he leaving the administration because of the resignation of his dad?

I wonder If anybody has heard about this being the main reason for him leaving

I've got to believe that has something to do with it.

My understanding is that the elder Powell was starting to lose status with our current administration.