WP/AP: Bush Picks Telecom Lawyer for FCC

[DeepModem Mom]

Bush Picks Telecom Lawyer for FCC
By JENNIFER C. KERR
The Associated Press
Friday, February 3, 2006


WASHINGTON -- President Bush chose telecommunications attorney and lobbyist Robert McDowell on Friday to take an open seat at the Federal Communications Commission, a move that would restore the agency's 3-2 GOP majority.

McDowell currently serves as senior vice president and assistant general counsel at CompTel, a trade organization representing phone carriers that compete with the regional Bell companies _ Verizon, BellSouth, Qwest and AT&T.

The Senate would have to confirm the nomination.

McDowell would give FCC Chairman Kevin Martin a Republican majority at the agency _ something he hasn't had since he was elevated to the post last March. Since then, the normally five-member commission has been evenly split 2-2, although it was briefly operating with only three members in December _ when Martin was outnumbered by the two Democrats on the panel. The Democratic majority ended last month when Republican Deborah Tate was sworn in....

***

A third Republican vote would allow Martin to move forward with his agenda and tackle contentious issues like a review of media ownership rules....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/03/AR2006020301991.html

[Up2Late]

1. I though this happened several days ago, is this another...

...telecommunications lobbyist? Or is this the same guy?

[DeepModem Mom]

2. The previous story, I believe, said Bush was expected to name...

the lawyer. He has now named him.

[Up2Late]

3. Yes, I see it now, looks like this was leaked...

...about 2 weeks ago: <http://today.reuters.com/investing/financeArticle.aspx?type=governmentFilingsNews&storyID=URI:urn:newsml:reuters.com:20060123:MTFH73574_2006-01-23_20-39-52_N23319703:1>

[Mnemosyne]

4. .

[phoebe]

5. Robert M McDowell + 2000 Florida election re-count team

is there no end to this crap???

campaignsitebuilder.com/templates/displayfiles/tmpl18.asp?

snip

Prior to joining CompTel, McDowell served as the Executive Vice President and General Counsel of America's Carriers Telecommunications Association (ACTA), which later merged with CompTel. In addition, McDowell served as outside deputy general counsel to ACTA while with the Washington, D.C. and Tysons Corner-based telecommunications law firm Helein & Associates, P.C.

McDowell was graduated cum laude from Duke University in 1985. After working in 1986-87 as a Legislative Assistant for Bob Andrews, a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, he attended the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary. Upon his graduation from law school, McDowell joined the Washington, D.C. office of Arter & Hadden, a national Cleveland-based law firm.

McDowell is extensively involved in civic and political affairs. He has served on numerous boards and commissions and was appointed by Governors George Allen and Jim Gilmore to the Governor's Advisory Board for a Safe and Drug-Free Virginia and the Board for Contractors respectively. He also is a veteran of several Republican presidential campaigns -- most recently as a member of the Bush-Cheney Florida Recount Team.

[robbibaba]

6. well, on the bright side...

maybe there's a finite number of these bastards. Each time one of these cronys is appointed it's a clearer picture of the cancerous tumor on our body politic. Cold comfort.

[DeepModem Mom]

8. We can only hope, robbibaba -- welcome to DU!

[wordpix2]

7. more consolidation of M$M under GOP nutcase banner=mind control

[Judi Lynn]

9. Nominee to Give F.C.C. Republican Majority

Nominee to Give F.C.C. Republican Majority
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: February 4, 2006

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 (AP) — President Bush has chosen a telecommunications lawyer and lobbyist, Robert M. McDowell, to take an open seat at the Federal Communications Commission, a move that would restore the agency's 3-to-2 Republican majority.
(snip)

The Senate would have to confirm the nomination.

The appointment of Mr. McDowell will give the agency chairman, Kevin J. Martin, his first Republican majority on the commission since he was elevated to the post in March. Since then, the normally five-member commission has been evenly split 2-to-2, although it was briefly operating with only three members in December — when Mr. Martin was outnumbered by the two Democrats. The Democratic majority ended last month when Deborah Taylor Tate, a Republican, was sworn in.

The absence of a Republican majority proved troublesome for Mr. Martin last summer when the Republicans and Democrats on the panel could not agree on how to begin the process of considering media ownership rules. The issue was shelved minutes before it was to be discussed at a monthly F.C.C. meeting.
(snip/...)

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/04/business/04fcc.html

[november3rd]

10. Shit

Bush really knows how to retake the initiative when he's been placed on the defensive by his own folly.

[WhiteTara]

11. I like the euphemism for rape and pillage

A third Republican vote would allow Martin to move forward with his agenda and tackle contentious issues like a review of media ownership rules.... Taking our airwaves away from us and giving them to the corps. FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT CALL CALL CALL. We can't be focused on one item, we have to call on all the issues and the airwaves are prime.

[electricray]

12. This is reason enough to oppose the guy

Sensenbrenner award

His former company awarded James Sensenbrenner with some BS "Champions of Competition" award.

Any company who supports that bag of crap has no redeeming qualities in my opinion.

[Orsino]

13. It only seems as though it's happening again and again...

...because it is.