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more on MICHAEL K. POWELL'S GOLDEN REVOLVING DOOR
From: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 15:22:04 -0400
Again I agree. As an APPROVE:1965my salary was at UPenn level much more than most FCCers got and still I took a pay cut in that I did no consulting during my term.
Dave Begin forwarded message: From: Patrick Ross <Pross () pff org> Date: August 12, 2005 2:55:04 PM EDT To: dave () farber net, Ip Ip <ip () v2 listbox com> Subject: RE: [IP] MICHAEL K. POWELL'S GOLDEN REVOLVING DOOR Dave, I've seen this screed by Jeff Chester elsewhere, and I'll confess I don't understand it. Has anyone thought of the implications here? First of all, why should FCC chairs and commissioners agree not to do not-for-profit work for a time after they leave, when other public officials have no such restrictions? The FCC isn't the only government agency that deals with corporate America. I imagine the response is "Well, let's mandate it for every public official." Okay, so what then? Some of our forefathers didn't want politicians to be paid because they were concerned about improper motivation. But others pointed out that in that case only the independently wealthy would serve. That would hardly be representative of a country with a thriving middle class. Many FCC chairs and commissioners take pay cuts to work there. That's true of bureau chiefs and 8th floor staff as well. Now, Jeff and Dwayne would have them not only take a pay cut while they are in public office, but for an undefined number of years after their service is complete. They likely were skilled in telecom before the FCC, have sharpened skills after their tenure, but can't put that to use in the job market the way anyone who didn't work at the FCC can. Instead, they have to go do some job that may not appeal to them as part of the price of being at the FCC. I work for a nonprofit think tank, and this would be great for us, because we'd try to hire a bunch of ex-commissioners and chairmen, Republican and Democrat. We can't afford them now, of course. But I'm trying to look beyond my parochial interest here and figure out how anyone could give this a moment's thought and not feel that such a move in fact would all but dry up the pool of people willing to leave private practice and enter public service. Patrick Ross VP-Communications & External Affairs The Progress & Freedom Foundation 1444 Eye Street NW, Suite 500 Washington, DC 20005 202.289.8928 office 202.680.2445 mobile www.pff.org ipcentral.info -----Original Message----- From: David Farber [mailto:dave () farber net] Sent: Friday, August 12, 2005 2:21 PM To: Ip Ip Subject: [IP] MICHAEL K. POWELL'S GOLDEN REVOLVING DOOR Begin forwarded message: From: Dewayne Hendricks <dewayne () warpspeed com> Date: August 12, 2005 8:38:45 AM EDT To: Dewayne-Net Technology List <dewayne-net () warpspeed com> Subject: [Dewayne-Net] MICHAEL K. POWELL'S GOLDEN REVOLVING DOOR Reply-To: dewayne () warpspeed com [Note: I posted an item about Powell's new job yesterday. Now here's some reaction. I have to say that I'm in agreement with the commentary from the Center for Digital Democracy. DLH] MICHAEL K. POWELL'S GOLDEN REVOLVING DOOR [Commentary] The announcement that Michael K. Powell has become a "Senior Advisor" at Providence Equity Partners is evidence once again that the "revolving door" between the FCC and the very industries it oversees should be slammed shut. Powell joins his fellow former chairs Richard Wiley, Mark Fowler, Dennis Patrick, Reed Hundt, and William Kennard, all of whom went from the FCC to work in the media and telecommunications industries. With lucrative industry employment ahead of them, FCC chairs (and most commissioners) have a built-in conflict of interest. They simply can't take the independent positions necessary to fulfill their responsibilities to the public -- and to the public interest. In the "free-market" economy of Washington DC and Wall Street, being a political "quick change" artist and then going to work for an industry one once oversaw is considered a mark of success. But the practice does a disservice to the public, including workers, investors, and competitors. Chairs and Commissioners should pledge that they will work in the nonprofit sector for a reasonable period after the serve in office. Otherwise, there will always be the concern that pro-Big Media philosophies are simply part of resumes for a highly-paid post- FCC gigs. [SOURCE: Center for Digital Democracy] <http://www.democraticmedia.org/news/washingtonwatch/ FCCrevolvingdoor.html> * Former FCC Chairman To Join Investment Firm <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/11/ AR2005081101943.html> * Michael Powell goes to Providence Equity <http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20050812/powell12.art.htm> Weblog at: <http://weblog.warpspeed.com> ------------------------------------- You are subscribed as pross () pff org To manage your subscription, go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/ ------------------------------------- You are subscribed as lists-ip () insecure org To manage your subscription, go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/
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