Ample Chuckles At FCC Meeting
The FCC held its first meeting as a full five-member commission under Chairman Julius Genachowski on Thursday. Democratic Commissioner Mignon Clyburn and Republican Meredith Baker joined colleagues Michael Copps, a Democrat, and Robert McDowell, a Republican, on the dais. Before digging into the meat of the meeting, members began with some humorous remarks. Some highlights:
• Genachowski, who chaired his first meeting (with only Copps and McDowell) last month, banged the gavel and said it "wasn't as exciting as last time." He added that now that the FCC has five commissioners his statements will be 40 percent shorter.
• McDowell noted that Clyburn, a former South Carolina Public Service Commissioner "doesn't even have to change the title on her business card." He joked that the FCC could save money by simply scratching out the old address.
• McDowell also said that Baker, who sits at the end of the dais, will routinely speak last. That means she'll be editing her remarks on the fly because the other commissioners will steal all of her talking points. The push to improvise will "drive all your legal advisers crazy," he said.
• Clyburn said she was impressed with the FCC's "first class southern hospitality" since she came on board -- from the lobby welcome banner and prompt thermostat adjustments to the security guard who waved her into the right garage during her first week.
• On a final note, Genachowski's spokeswoman Jen Howard baked the press corps chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies -- a delicious bribe.
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