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The FCC's Compromiser in Chief
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Yet for all the ripples he's caused with his aggressive push for changes in the cable industry, critics say he has overlooked the nation's biggest priorities.
Under his watch, the United States' worldwide ranking for broadband Internet access fell to 16th, behind Denmark and Luxembourg. He failed to establish a wireless network for emergency first responders in disasters like Hurricane Katrina. The transition from low-powered television to digital -- the biggest event in television since the advent of color -- has been wrought with confusion for consumers.
"With Kevin, we've been asleep on broadband, and we're going to be like Rip Van Winkle waking up with no cure for America," said Reed Hundt, a former FCC chairman.
The FCC was once an obscure agency, formed 74 years ago to hand out broadcast television and radio licenses. Today media mogul Rupert Murdoch and Internet billionaire Larry Page come to Martin with hat in hand, humbly asking for favorable policies. The agency is also at a crossroads, struggling to keep up with dramatic changes in technology and communications.
Cable television competes with video Web sites like YouTube. Phone companies like Verizon and AT&T offer television services and high-speed Internet over cellphones.
Martin said he enjoys this expanded telecom world.
"To take a complex issue and find solutions that you can resolve and address policies to -- I like the policy challenges of that," Martin said.
He's done so mostly behind the scenes.
On a recent morning, Martin is clearly uncomfortable as he films a public service announcement about the transition from analog to digital television. He stares, frozen, into the lens and fights to look relaxed, natural.
But once he's among lawmakers, business leaders and consumer advocates, critics say, Martin can be dogged, sometimes difficult and insular.
A congressional staff member, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigation, said House aides used to interact more with staff specialists at the FCC. Under Martin, those meetings are almost always done by him.
"He's maniacal in his desire to control flow of information between the agency and the Hill," the staffer said.
