Obama Knocks at FCC Door

With President-elect Obama's transition team expected to knock on the Federal Communications Commission's door this week to begin the transition process, it's beginning to look like there may be no additional votes on major TV issues before FCC Chairman Kevin Martin gets replaced. The FCC hasn't yet set its January meeting date, but if it falls late in the month the commission's Dec. 18 gathering could be Mr. Martin's last as chairman of the current commission. Even if the FCC schedules an early January meeting—a tentative date of Jan. 15 has been discussed—no major action is expected on TV issues. In recent years the FCC's January meeting customarily has been used to hear reports from various FCC bureaus—not for significant votes. Action is even less likely this January. Unless Congress suddenly acts to confirm Republican Deborah Taylor Tate, Ms. Tate's recess appointment to the FCC will expire before any January meeting. That would leave the FCC with two Democratic and two Republican commissioners, leaving one seat open for an appointment by President-elect Obama. An aide to Chairman Martin said last week that the chairman still hopes to take action on some issues. The FCC could yet resolve debates about public safety departments' use of broadcast airwaves, and compensation of local phone service carriers for providing lifeline universal phone service. It also may take some steps to provide lifeline broadband service. The FCC may continue to take more action on the DTV transition if events warrant.