Local Digest: Former FCC Chairman Joining Patton Boggs

EXECUTIVES

Former FCC Chairman Joining Patton Boggs

Kevin Martin, former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, is joining Patton Boggs in early October as co-chairman of the D.C. law firm's telecommunications policy practice, according to the firm. Martin served as a commissioner and then was appointed chairman in 2005 by President George W. Bush, five years after working as legal counsel for Bush's presidential campaign. He left the agency in January to join the Aspen Institute. Martin will co-chair the law firm's telecom policy group with Jennifer Richter.

He left a checkered legacy at the FCC, where he was known for his strong but unsuccessful push to bring a la carte pricing to cable television. He drew a congressional investigation after complaints of mismanagement. Greater consolidation in the telecommunications industry took place under his leadership, and the agency failed to establish an interoperable public safety network for emergency responders, as mandated by Congress.

During his tenure, the agency coped with the Web's massive disruption of the communications sector. Martin ruled against Comcast for allegedly blocking a peer-to-peer Web service company, an important milestone in the debate over net-neutrality rules.

-- Cecilia Kang

EARNINGS

Gannett Says Quarter Will Beat Projections

Gannett, the largest U.S. newspaper publisher, said third-quarter earnings should far outpace expectations despite a narrow shortfall in revenue, as layoffs and falling newsprint costs help offset weak advertising sales.

Tuesday's announcement gave a sharp boost to Gannett's stocks, as well as those of other newspaper companies.

McLean-based Gannett, which publishes 84 daily U.S. newspapers, including USA Today, and operates 23 television stations, anticipates earnings of 25 cents to 31 cents per share when it reports results Oct. 19. That would mark a sharp drop from 69 cents in the year-ago period, but expectations for newspapers have declined drastically.

-- Associated Press