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The Washington Post Magazine
Making the Call: Are Telemarketers Getting Our Message? Inside the Telephone-Marketing Boiler Room
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Transcript: Author Wells Tower took reader questions on his telemarketing piece.
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Tech Policy and Security Weekly
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Changing Your Wireless Plan?
Starting Nov. 24, wireless phone users will be able to take their phone numbers with them when they switch plans. And soon, consumers will be able to move home phone numbers to wireless accounts.
One Phone Number, to Go (Post, Sept. 28)
Graphic: How Phone Numbers Move (Post, Nov. 19)
Q&A: Cell Phone Number Changes
The Media Ownership Debate
In 2003, the Federal Communications Commission, led by chairman Michael Powell, voted to loosen rules governing how many properties a media company can own in a single market. Read more:
Senators Attack FCC Rules
FCC Eases Media Ownership Rules
Opinion Wrap-Up: Lawmakers, Groups React to FCC Vote
Editorials Weigh In on FCC's Media Ownership Vote
Unlikely Alliance Opposes Rules
Media Ownership Rules
Media Unbound: An overview of the key actions the FCC took on June 2 to loosen media ownership rules.
Major Players: The major media companies and their executives.
Media Madness: Media stocks climbed in advance of the FCC decision on expectation that mergers and acquisitions are in the works.
FCC's Michael Powell
The Great Deregulator: Reporter Frank Ahrens profiled President Bush's pick to head the Federal Communications Commission (June 18, 2001).
Powell Interview Excerpts
FCC: At a Glance
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent government agency, directly responsible to Congress. The FCC was established by the Communications Act of 1934 and is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable.

The FCC is directed by five commissioners appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate for five-year terms, except when filling an unexpired term. The president designates one of the commissioners to serve as Chairman. Only three commissioners may be members of the same political party. None of them can have a financial interest in any Commission-related business. -- FCC Web site.

The FCC Commissioners
On the FCC (washingtonpost.com)


Michael K. Powell (R), Chairman
Appointed Chairman by President Bush: Jan. 22, 2001
[Originally appointed to the Commission by President Clinton: Nov. 3, 1997]

Kathleen Q. Abernathy (R)
Appointed by President Bush: May 2001
Term ends: June 30, 2004.

Kevin J. Martin (R)
Appointed by President Bush: April 2001
Term ends: June 30, 2006

Michael J. Copps (D)
Appointed by President Bush: May 2001
Term ends: June 30, 2005

Jonathan Adelstein (D)
Appointed by President Bush: November 2002.
Term ends: June 30, 2003

FCC Bureaus:
Cable Services
Common Carrier
Consumer Information
Enforcement
International
Mass Media
Wireless Telecommunications
- Biotech - Telecom - Software
- Hardware - Venture Capital
- Media - Internet
Ownership Cap Could Stop Adelphia Deal
Joint bid by Time Warner Cable and Comcast to buy bankrupt Adelphia Communications's cable system could face hurdles if the government's top regulators take up a long-dormant cable ownership limit. -The Washington Post

FCC Head Downplays Regulation
Cable companies worried about a regulatory clampdown on their industry got good news Wednesday when they met the new Federal Communications Commission chairman.

More Telecom Policy Headlines
FCC Ruling Limits Competition, ISP Tells Justices: Rival Companies' Access To Cable Lines Is at Issue (Post, March 30, 2005)

Anti-Indecency Forces Opposed (Post, March 26, 2005)

FCC Favors Bells in DSL Vote (Post, March 26, 2005)

FCC's New Standards-Bearer: Bush Picks Vocal Indecency Opponent Kevin J. Martin to Head Commission (Post, March 17, 2005)

Rule Eases Comparison Of Cell Phone Charges: FCC's Standard Supersedes States' (Post, March 11, 2005)

Powell Leaves FCC Admonishing Uncivil America (Post, March 11, 2005)

Phone Company Settles in Blocking of Internet Calls (Post, March 4, 2005)

A Clear Path to Consolidation: House Panel Appears Unlikely to Challenge Big Telecom Mergers (Post, March 3, 2005)

Senator Bids to Extend Indecency Rules to Cable: Industry Defends Its Self-Policing Activities as Sufficient (Post, March 2, 2005)

FCC Tells AT&T to Pay Fees on Prepaid Cards (Post, Feb. 24, 2005)

FCC Probes Blocking of Internet Phone Calls (Post, Feb. 17, 2005)

House Raises Penalties for Airing Indecency (Post, Feb. 17, 2005)

Digital Conversion To Add Channels: FCC Rules Cable Firms Can Choose (Post, Feb. 11, 2005)

FCC Aims to Speed Evaluation of Indecency Complaints (Post, Feb. 9, 2005)

Nextel Resolves Cell Phone Snarl: Firm Gets Access To New Airwaves As Compensation (Post, Feb. 8, 2005)

AT&T-SBC Union Now Looks Possible (Post, Jan. 28, 2005)

FCC Drops Bid to Relax Media Rules: Agency Sought Fewer Limits on Ownership (Post, Jan. 28, 2005)

FCC Dismisses 36 Indecency Complaints as Not 'Patently Offensive' (Post, Jan. 25, 2005)




© 2002-2005 The Washington Post Company


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