FCC Chief is Hanging Up His Censor Block

Since assuming his chairman position, FCC muckey muck Michael Powell has brought annual broadcasting decency fines from a high $48 grand to an unprecedencted $7.7 million last year. Do the math and find out that in a score of 3 years, his business revenue grew 160%. How many fast food joints can you say have done that?

Still, Powell announced today that he would be stepping down, citing that he has accomplished the goals he set for himself and is bowing out. Anyone else smell conspiracy? Powell’s exploits came to public light most recently stemming from the Janet Jackson ‘wardrobe malfunction’ last year for which CBS was fined and now contesting, $550,000.

One Los Angeles morning radio show celebrated shortly, feeling a bit of ease on their wallets likely, since it’s assumed that fines will be less frequent and monitoring will be slowed. Lisa May, a co host of the Kevin & Bean show on KROQ made a point not to be so hasty however, warning “the new one could be worse, we don’t know this new enemy”.

Enemy or not, his stepping down and replacement could mean pending changes for broadcast standards. Stay tuned.