Report Accuses FCC's Kevin Martin of Abuse of Power

[Force Commander]

http://news.radio-online.com/cgi-bin/$r ... _id=b11298

[Lester]

• But after issuing the 110-page report, it seems that investigators provided no proof of any illegal behavior. In a statement, FCC spokesman Robert Kenny said, "It appears that the Committee did not find or conclude that there were any violations of rules, laws or procedures." He also noted that Martin had followed the same procedures that have been followed for the past 20 years by every other FCC Chairman, Democrat and Republican.
  
  "After a year of investigation, the Committee's primary criticism of the Chairman is that he spent too much money to ensure that deaf Americans have equal access to communications services. The Commission provided the Committee with hundreds of emails from deaf and disabled Americans who wrote that they were 'appalled' to learn that the FCC staff [was] intent on drastically cutting the Video Relay Service (VRS) rate and effectively cutting VRS availability for the deaf," said Kenny.
  
  He continued, "The other major criticism of Chairman Martin is that he believes cable rates are too high and that he has sought to enhance choice and competition in the market for video services. With cable rates having doubled over the last decade, he will continue advocate on behalf of the millions of cable subscribers."

Yeah... he's a real prick.

[Kitesgot]

What an asshole.

Looks like a good day for a hangin'.

This guy is worse than the Illinois governor.

How dare he advocate for the deaf?

Seriously------- what the hell have the deaf done for ANYONE that uses THIS forum?

NOTHING! NADA! GOOSE-EGGS!

The ONLY thing the deaf have ever done for the radio industry is not file a complaint because something that was said offended them.

(too far?---too much?---)

[Arp2]

With lefty Democrats in all the branches, the next "big abuse and crime" will be "driving while Republican."

[Cameron]

• But after issuing the 110-page report, it seems that investigators provided no proof of any illegal behavior. In a statement, FCC spokesman Robert Kenny said, "It appears that the Committee did not find or conclude that there were any violations of rules, laws or procedures." He also noted that Martin had followed the same procedures that have been followed for the past 20 years by every other FCC Chairman, Democrat and Republican.
  
  "After a year of investigation, the Committee's primary criticism of the Chairman is that he spent too much money to ensure that deaf Americans have equal access to communications services. The Commission provided the Committee with hundreds of emails from deaf and disabled Americans who wrote that they were 'appalled' to learn that the FCC staff [was] intent on drastically cutting the Video Relay Service (VRS) rate and effectively cutting VRS availability for the deaf," said Kenny.
  
  He continued, "The other major criticism of Chairman Martin is that he believes cable rates are too high and that he has sought to enhance choice and competition in the market for video services. With cable rates having doubled over the last decade, he will continue advocate on behalf of the millions of cable subscribers."

Yeah... he's a real prick.

You quoted the FCC's spokesperson's press-release geared to discredit the report as your gospel? Not the most unbiased angle doncha' think?
So saying too much money was spent on a project is the same as saying, "Go to hell deaf people"?
The report says that Martin's lack of oversight was responsible for overcharging customers of the relay service $100 million dollars a year.
The report accuses Martin of withholding "important and relevant data" from other commissioners in an effort to force cable television providers to offer unpackaged television channels to customers, without customers having to pay for an entire package of channels. Martin attempted to push through a vote on "a la carte" television service after encouraging a February 2006 report on video competition that contracted one the FCC issued in 2004, the House report says.

(Just quoting the report - not the damage-control.)
(Bi-partisan committee BTW)

Here's the actual report so you can read it and make your on conclusions rather than a blurb or press-release making it for you:
http://energycommerce.house.gov/images/ ... 081209.pdf

You'll like the part where he became aware his a la carte numbers weren't adding-up and threatened the head of the Media Bureau to re-write the report and reverse the findings. The Media Bureau struggled with re-writing their best analysis of the issue - Martin "reassigned" the head of the Media Bureau, and gave the report to another division for HIS re-write.

I mean, it's not like this guy was caught fudging the numbers on the ownership studies - right?

[Jay Nunley]

With lefty Democrats in all the branches, the next "big abuse and crime" will be "driving while Republican."

It's about time you bastards got busted for that crime!

[The People's DJ]

With lefty Democrats in all the branches, the next "big abuse and crime" will be "driving while Republican."

It's about time you bastards got busted for that crime!

Then it will be the fat bastard. You're eating to much and the skinny f**ks don't have any so off to jail so you can slim down fat ass!

Anyways, the FCC needs a reboot...BAD!

[Hoosier Daddy]

I'd like to see the FCC get back to technical spec monitoring and enforcement issues and stop being the Whore and the spectrum Sugar Daddy of corporate broadcast and communication interests.

[The People's DJ]

I'd like to see the FCC get back to technical spec monitoring and enforcement issues

Why? Theres much more money being

the Whore and the spectrum Sugar Daddy of corporate broadcast and communication interests.