CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS WILL DEAL PRIVATELY WITH POWELL
Some top civil rights leaders active in telecom and broadcasting fields have privately adopted “hands-off” policy during “honeymoon period” of FCC Chmn. Powell and are encouraging political supporters to do same thing, officials confirmed. It’s effort to allow 2nd consecutive African-American FCC chmn. to maintain conservative constituency and “grow into a difficult job” formerly held by William Kennard, “who seemed to always be under attack” from public interest groups, board member of one civil rights telecom group told us. “We don’t want to undermine” Powell agenda, civil rights telecom attorney said: “It’s a conscious choice many of us have made.” FCC officials wouldn’t comment.
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Decision not to advocate their position aggressively at Commission in public forum is “definite change in strategy,” from Kennard era, when major civil rights lobbying groups actively pushed their agenda, another telecom attorney said. “We didn’t publicly advocate against Chairman Kennard,” board member of communications organization told us. “We disagreed” with him on “a number of things,” including convergence and consolidation of broadcasting industry, but “there is a concern that you don’t want to blast a chairman of color.”
Sources told us “inclusive” Chmn. Powell had been meeting privately with several special interests groups, including civil rights organizations such as Minority Media & Telecom Council (MMTC), National Assn. of Minorities in Communications (NAMIC), Black Entertainment & Telecom Assn. (BETA), National Bar Assn. and National Rainbow Coalition. MMTC Exec. Dir. David Honig wouldn’t address relationship with Powell publicly, saying “people are just going to have to wait and see,” but confirmed organization “won’t be issuing any statements” on policy issues “in the near future.” With vast majority of African-Americans in broadcast and telecom industry Democrats, and Powell a Republican, it’s way for 2 to develop “positive working relationship” attorney said. “We're going to have to take a more strategic approach” with Republican Administration and Powell, civil rights telecom lawyer said.
Standing with organizations doesn’t mean Powell will defer to special interest and civil rights groups on important issues, officials said. “He challenges the status quo,” one said. “I don’t see us publicly advocating against Chairman Powell. If we have differences, it would be done in more private manner. Strategically, we don’t want his Republican colleagues to think he is in the back pocket of civil rights leaders. It gives him a little bit of cover and a great deal of respect.” Leaders of groups say Powell won’t receive free pass either, just because he’s African-American. “There are times when the chairman’s hands need to be smacked,” board member of civil rights group and telecom attorney said. “It’s how you do it that’s important. If he does something wrong, you have to call him on it or we wouldn’t be representing our constituents.” BETA Pres. Talib Karim said groups want to give Powell “benefit of the doubt” before passing judgment: “We want to establish a working relationship with him.”
Karim told us Powell ruffled some feathers with “digital divide comment” 2 weeks ago (Powell illustrated his suspicion of remedies by saying he was victim of “Mercedes divide” since he couldn’t afford one), but did “a lot to smooth things out” by making appearance and supportive remarks at private Black History Month reception for Kennard Feb. 20 hosted by BETA and other civil rights leaders from broadcast and telecom industries (CD Feb 23 p5). Powell spokeswoman said chmn. wouldn’t be issuing statements “on issues like that.” However, at BETA reception Powell stirred crowd by saying “for first time in history” blacks had “an opportunity” to play major role in technological revolution. “We couldn’t participate in the American Revolution because we were slaves or the Industrial Revolution because we didn’t have enough money.” Many in crowd said he was “different kind” of Republican. “It won’t be hard to find common ground,” minority broadcast owner said.