The Media Drop

BusinessWeek Online features a commentary this week by Catherine Yang about the future of the FCC after Chairman Michael Powell’s departure next month. Yet again, I’m surprised to find a piece that mentions Powell leaving, commissioner Kevin Martin possibly taking the top slot, but failing to mention the expected loss of commissioner Kathleen Abernathy later on this year. It’s no small potatoes that two of the four individuals leading the FCC are on the way out at a time when issues such as media consolidation, VoIP, and other Internet-related topics are on the front burner. There might not be as much press related to the replacements for these positions, but be assured that the impact may be close to the importance, at least for the 4-8 year timeframe, as whoever is chosen as the new Supreme Court Justices.