But can Powell Junior get a job with Howard Stern?

R. Scott Raynovich wants to abolish the FCC.

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin -- a Republican and thus thought to be naturally pro-marketplace -- has recently been flexing his regulatory muscles and trying to step up regulation of cable, including price controls and the patrolling of content....

FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell decided to butt heads with Martin, saying Martin's efforts to increase regulation were not in the public interest, and, in fact, he even accused Martin of trying to railroad through more regulation using faulty data and without the appropriate review process....

Let's shelve the archaic rules here and use common sense. Are communications networks more monopolistic than they were 10 years ago? 20 years ago? It seems to me that the big trends for communications networks for the past 10 years are more services, more choice, and more competition....

The average consumer has more communications options than ever. Recently, I estimate, I've halved my communications bill and doubled the quality of my services (through more HD cable channels and blazing fast broadband service) by going to a new triple-play fiber service. The TV service is now essentially free.

Is the consumer really losing here? There is more competition in the communications industry than ever before.

The FCC's recent debate boils down to no more than a rationalization for its own existence. The fact is, the Internet and mobile communications are rapidly removing its relevance. At the very least, the agency's powers and budget should be rapidly scaled back....The agency could deal with only the basic public communications issues: public safety, spectrum regulation, and ensuring communications services for low-income and rural citizens.

The rest of it you can leave to local public utility boards.

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