@ CES: FCC's Martin: No Resignation Plans To Announce
This story was written by Staci D. Kramer.
I'm not sure who they all are but a surprising number of people have opted to spend an hour of a pretty nice Las Vegas day in a dark meeting room listening to outgoing FCC Chairman Kevin Martin in his last CES heading the commission. If they were hoping for a sign from Martin about his plans, no such luck. Although he fully expects to replaced as chairman, Martin is not ready to leave the FCCor not ready to say so, at least. Martin told CEA head Gary Shapiro: "My term's not up til 2011 and I don't have any plans to announce. I don't have anything to go do yet."
DTV transition: Shapiro archly asked Martin if the Obama team's request that the Feb. 17 transition date be change "if change you can believe in." The actual date was chosen by Congress and, as Martin pointed out quickly and often, Congress can change the date but he doesn't think the target should move. "Ultimately, this is Congress's decision. I completely think we need to do something about the computer box coupon program and we need to move quickly." But he contends that actually changing the date "will create even more consumer confusion" as well as causing problems for broadcasters who are ready to move and hampering the would-be new users of the spectrum space that is supposed to be freed up by the switch.
More to come
By Staci D. Kramer