FCC Comr. Furchtgott-Roth plans to work for think tank for severa...

FCC Comr. Furchtgott-Roth plans to work for think tank for several months after he leaves FCC, giving him time to write book and “look around the private sector” for new job, he told reporters Tues. at his monthly breakfast briefing. However, he said he probably would remain at FCC for “many months” before President Bush appointed replacement. Asked what kind of book he will write, he said it would be “telecommunications-related and based on my experience here.” He predicted that Chmn. Powell would be “outstanding chairman” who would lead “a more restrained Commission, more tied to the law.” Furchtgott-Roth said he expected Powell to concentrate on management issues, giving industry more “predictability” and speeding decisions on license applications and other petitions. However, he said he didn’t know whether Powell would go as far as setting specific time frame for license reviews. On other topics, he said he had been assured that agency would gear up soon to resume work on reciprocal compensation. “The last piece of paper” he received involving reciprocal compensation language was in early Dec., he said. On wireless issues teed up at agency, Furchtgott-Roth said he expected it would address license transfers connected to VoiceStream, Powertel and Deutsche Telekom merger “shortly.” Applications were filed in Oct. and “we're over 90 days now,” he said. “It should have been taken care of.” Asked about concerns raised by some over designated entities backed by larger carriers in recently completed C- and F-block auction, Furchtgott-Roth said Commission had “fact-specific rules” on ownership. Agency policy allows challenges to ownership provisions after long forms are filed following close of auction. Difficulty in allowing such challenges before start of auction is that pool of bidders was substantial, making certification of such ownership issues ahead of bidding time-consuming, he said.