Another Powell bites the dust

The Blue Lemur has the scoop on this one. It appears that FCC Chairman Michael Powell, the more conservative son of outgoing Secretary of State Colin Powell, is stepping down from his post.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell plans to resign today, ending what’s often been a controversial tenure as he tried to push the telecom and media industries into an increasingly deregulated world that some lawmakers, companies and consumer groups didn’t like.

The news came as somewhat of a surprise, just one day after President Bush’s inauguration and with some very hefty issues yet to be dealt with by the FCC including how to treat burgeoning Internet phone services as well as how to overhaul the Universal Service Fund, a federal subsidy program under financial pressure.

Who will take over for him? Kevin Martin is a possible successor. He is currently one of the Republican commissioners.