Colleague salutes FCC's Copps

Several telecom policy stakeholders used the December open meeting of the Federal Communications Commission to bid farewell to Democratic Commissioner Michael Copps, who will retire at the end of the year.

Republican Commissioner Robert McDowell sounded a bittersweet note, complimenting Copps for his willingness to work across party lines and paying tribute to his eloquence.

"Even though we sometimes disagreed on policy, I admire his talent in expressing his views so memorably," McDowell said. "Who else could have framed our December 2007 media ownership decision as “another big, shiny present for the favored few who already hold an FCC license — and a lump of coal” for everyone else?"

“Commissioner Copps personifies the character and attributes we seek in a public servant; he thoughtfully and sometimes passionately represented those he served, and his hard work and dedication — as well as his generosity of spirit — set a high standard for the Commission,” said Kathleen Grillo, Verizon senior vice president for federal regulatory affairs.

Copps joined the commission in 2001; during his 10-year service he was an outspoken advocate for net neutrality and increasing diversity in the media and telecom industry. He also voted against media consolidation several times, including the lone vote against approve the NBC Universal-Comcast merger last year.

"We hear a lot these days from cynics about how Washington inevitably corrupts even those with the best intentions, about how no one can hope to make a difference anymore. Those cynics never met Michael Copps," said Public Knowledge legal director Harold Feld.

"Anyone watching local news or enjoying the open Internet owes a debt to Commissioner Copps and what he accomplished in his time at the commission."

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