Michael Copps Retiring: FCC Commissioner Leaving At Year's End

Michael Copps, a longtime Democrat on the Federal Communications Commission, says he's retiring by year's end.

Copps, a vocal critic of media consolidation, has been a commissioner since May 2001. He did not give a reason in his public resignation letter Tuesday. He says he still plans to speak about broadband expansion and other issues as a private citizen.

Last year, Copps was the only commissioner to vote against Comcast Corp.'s takeover of NBCUniversal, saying the deal "confers too much power in one company's hands."

His departure would leave two Democrats and one Republican on the FCC, with two vacancies. President Barack Obama has already nominated Jessica Rosenworcel, a former legal adviser to Copps, and Ajit Pai, another former FCC staffer, to fill the seats.

Comments

[coloradocowboy]

12:50 AM on 12/11/2011

Mr Copps has fought a good fight for the public He stood up against the media corporations and said no to monopoly. He not always was on the "winning" side. I give you my thankx for your service..

[geneandeddie59]

11:30 AM on 12/08/2011

F*** you very much, the FCC. ---- Eric Idle

[tacevad]

09:28 AM on 12/08/2011

mergers & mega mergers cost jobs in the name of efficiency and profits. The consequences are evident , rising income inequality in the name of "progress" and elimination of the one true check on the free market , Competition.plus the entire "too Big to Fail" scenario. the solution requires higher prices for those "inefficiencies" inherent in smaller but far more numerous competitors. The benefit is a more robust overall economy where those in search of work can find it not just in one place but many.The more people who are working, the more they can buy which changes the death spiral we are in into a rising tide.If one poor manager fails in one company out of thousands performing a service it is a very localized event,if the failure is ata large corporation out of only a handful performing that service it becomes a national problem.
Breaking the "big boys" down into smaller Corporations is the sane solution for the future.Continuation of the past behavior only leads to more corruption.

[Harvey32]

11:40 PM on 12/06/2011

I've met him a few times. A really good guy. On any number of issues, had the concerns of the people - not corporations - at heart. (To show that you can never pigeonhole people -- though he was a progressive in most of his policy stances, he was also the biggest critic of indecency and obscenity on broadcast TV. Moreso than his Republican counterparts.

The FCC is replacing two Commissioners. Copps and former Commissioner Baker (Republican). Both replacments - one D, one R - should get thru confirmation quickly and smoothly.

[JPETERB]

01:24 AM on 12/07/2011

With this Congress? Are you sure you meant "quickly and smoothy" here?

[Harvey32]

01:31 AM on 12/07/2011

Actually, yes I meant it.

Let's speak the cold, hard truth for a second. The hold up on confirmations have not been "Congress", but *Republicans*.

But because there's a Republican Commissioner up for confirmation as well as Commissioner Copps' replacement, should be no problem.

[Tom Sutpen]

06:08 PM on 12/06/2011

Watch who replaces him. It'll be someone fifty times worse.

[Tim Moore]

09:32 PM on 12/06/2011

I'm sure the Repubs are blocking O's nominees as we speak.

[Tom Sutpen]

09:05 AM on 12/07/2011

I don't see why they would.

[hpblue5011]

11:26 PM on 12/09/2011

Well since it took Obama four months to find a dog for the white house, I am sure this will be a six month search at the least.