Meredith Baker Leaving National Telecommunications and Information Administration

MEREDITH BAKER LEAVING NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
According to sources, Meredith Atwell Baker, acting head of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and point person on the government's digital-TV-to-analog converter-box-coupon subsidy program, is exiting that post. As acting head, Baker would have had to be nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate to take over as official head of the agency. Baker, daughter-in-law of former Secretary of State James Baker, has only been running the NTIA since shortly before Thanksgiving, after the abrupt exit of John Kneuer just six weeks or so before the launch of the coupon program Jan. 1. As acting assistant secretary for communications and information, she is responsible for administering the program that is distributing millions of $40 coupons the government will issue to consumers. The collegial and genial Baker had been considered a good fit for the high-profile phase of the coupon campaign, when the NTIA must work with industry and government partners on an education campaign. Baker has been with the NTIA since 2004, when she joined as a senior advisor. The NTIA is the administration's telecommunications-policy advisor, but the DTV-transition-coupon program has put it in the spotlight as never before. According to an industry source, Neil Patel, an aide to Vice President Richard Cheney, is going to be named to run NTIA during the waning moment of the Bush administration.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6536613.html?rssid=193

* National Telecommunications and Information Administration Chief Baker Exiting
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6536683.html?nid=4262