Former FCC Chairman Kevin Martin's Dramatic Makeover

When Kevin Martin stepped down as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission in early 2009, many thought that his days as a force on regulatory issues were over. Today, he has re-emerged as a power broker, corralling significant opposition to the proposed $30 billion union of Comcast and NBC Universal, the first blockbuster communications deal to go before the Obama administration, which must decide whether to approve it.

As co-chairman of the technology practice at Patton Boggs, Washington's highest-grossing lobbying firm, Martin represents a half-dozen clients who are seeking to derail or heavily condition a joint venture that would create an entertainment juggernaut. Among the proposed entity's holdings: dozens of television networks and websites, including NBC, MSNBC, and CNBC; broadcast stations in 10 markets; Universal Studios and its library of several thousand films, its theme parks; and a sports arena. The stakes in the lobbying battle engulfing Washington couldn't be higher. In addition to worries about consumer choice and competition, on the line are the business model for accessing programming through the Web and network television's role in the Internet era. Perhaps more important, so is the template for the Obama administration's review of future communications mega-mergers. Martin's new role seems a natural fit, given his well-documented history of sparring with the cable television industry and in particular Comcast, already the nation's largest provider of cable and residential broadband service. But he is also raising eyebrows for his dramatic makeover that would impress even the most sophisticated image expert.