Center for Public Integrity has raised questions about FCC Chmn. ...

Center for Public Integrity has raised questions about FCC Chmn. Powell’s having possible conflict of interest. In article running on its Web site, CPI says Powell worked on GTE interconnection issues as attorney for O'Melveny & Myers but didn’t seek ethics review upon joining agency. Code of Federal Regulations requires new employees to seek guidance from agency ethics officers if there has been questionable contact within past year. FCC spokesman said Powell became commissioner in late 1997, 11 months after having worked on GTE case, and during that one- month overlap there were no issues before FCC that raised possible conflict with GTE. Powell was chief of staff at Dept. of Justice’s Antitrust Div. in 11 months before joining FCC. At law firm, Powell’s work for GTE consisted of being on team that worked on company’s interconnection arbitrations.