FCC Chmn. Powell was thrown out of his office but rescued by MPAA...

after Powell ended his annual FCBA speech by stomping off stage saying his job was thankless and he didn’t want to be chairman any more. In tape, it’s next day and Powell discovered he wasn’t chairman. He arrived at his office, no one knew him and after struggle staff member threw out now- disheveled Powell, suggesting it was time to go, “big guy.” As Powell’s guardian angel, Valenti transported him invisibly back into office, noting it was lot harder to get into Powell’s office as lobbyist. Powell discovered Dane Snowden, chief of FCC Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, sitting in Powell’s chair, talking on phone to Powell’s father Colin, whom he called “Dad.” Tape is full of quick, inside jokes. In one sequence, CTIA Pres. Tom Wheeler is chmn., pushing spectrum plan and expounding about Civil War, one of Wheeler’s interests, aided by Powell adviser Bryan Tramont, who has worked for several FCC commissioners. “Tramont again?” Powell exclaims: “He'll work for anyone.” One sequence, featuring Covad’s Jason Oxman and ALTS’ Jonathan Askin, was takeoff of Seinfeld TV show’s “soup Nazi” segment in which soup restaurant would give soup to some customers and not others. Askin and Oxman visited “loop Nazi” restaurant manned by FCC staffers John Rogovin and Christopher Libertelli and asked for loops. Askin got some - - bunch of fibers in a soup bowl -- but when Oxman asked for “just the upper frequency,” which is what Covad uses to provide service, Rogovin told him “no loops for you” and urged “him and his bow tie” to leave. Skit featuring Commission staff had Abernathy talking like Valley Girl, indecency critic Comr. Copps complaining that someone was drinking his soy milk, which was “indecent,” youthful-looking Comr. Martin calling another commissioner “dude.” Skit was written by staffer Jeff Carlisle. In speech before tape, Powell got a few zingers off, including comment that with new technology it took only hour to download noted communications attorney Dick Wiley’s Rolodex. “It takes longer to do the conflict checks but he [Wiley] says we don’t have to bother with that.” He said after he rang opening bell on Wall St. he feared CompTel would say: “Powell was standing with a Bell, proving he hates competition.” Powell ended tape by saying he feels “privileged to serve another year at least.”