Chairman Martin To Leave FCC on Jan. 20

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has announced his resignation from the FCC,
effective Jan. 20, TV Newsday reports. Upon his departure, he will become a senior fellow
at the Aspen Institute in Washington. Martin said he leaves the office with great pride in the FCC’s accomplishments and with deep gratitude for having had an opportunity
to serve the American public.

He stated that his philosophy during his tenure at the FCC “has been to pursue deregulation while paying close attention to its impact on consumers and the particulars of a given market, to balance deregulation with consumer protection.”

He also said that he “approached his decisions with a fundamental belief that a robust, competitive marketplace, not regulation, is ultimately the best protector of the public interest and the best method of delivering the benefits of choice, innovation, and affordability to American consumers.”

In his letter of resignation to President Bush, Martin wrote, “I have had the privilege of serving at the Federal Communications Commission for almost eight years, including four years as the agency’s Chairman. During this period, we have seen a telecommunications industry undergoing rapid and unprecedented change. As a result of the market-oriented and consumer-focused policies we have pursued, the American people are now reaping the rewards of convergence and the broadband revolution, including new and more innovative technologies and services at ever declining prices.”