Today's Quote 10.03.06

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin's predecessor, Michael K. Powell, ignited a fuse under the issue when he refused to hold public hearings around the nation, angering public interest groups and the commission's two Democrats. Today's hearings — a 1 p.m. session at USC's Davidson Conference Center and a 6:30 p.m. hearing at El Segundo High School — mark the first of six stops where Martin is planning to discuss the issue. "It's important that the process be open and transparent," he said. The aim is to "gather more evidence from the public" to support any changes the agency decides to make.