Politics: Pals of the Poison Pen at the FCC

With only a month to go in their jobs, departing FCC chairman Reed Hundt and outgoing commissioner James Quello locked horns again. A few weeks ago, Hundt sent out a notice to his three fellow commissioners that said: "The Commission is not a single commissioner or even a group of commissioners." His statement went on to explain that the FCC "is personified by the CEO and by other employees," and that the chairman alone controls the FCC's staff. Commissioner James Quello, a nemesis of Hundt since 1993, strongly disagreed with the chairman's memo. He fired back an e-mail, which read, in part, "Your creative approach to your newfound unilateral power of an FCC chairman is intriguing, but I don't believe it is supported by the Act (establishing the FCC), precedent or reasonable management practices." After citing from the act, Quello ended: "Even if there were a possible argument that the chairman can overrule the will of the majority of the commissioners, never in my 23 years am I aware of any time that such a naked grab for power has been attempted." Farewell parties for the two will likely be in different buildings.