FCC Chmn. Powell was thrown out of his office but rescued by MPAA Pres. Jack Valenti posing as angel named Clarence in FCC-produced tape shown at FCBA Chairman’s Dinner Thurs. night. Spoof of It’s a Wonderful Life was shown 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.”

Affected industries mustn’t see “present setback in digital” transition as validation of old ways of doing business in broadcasting or rejection of change to digital, FCC Chmn. Powell told MSTV DTV conference in Washington Tues. “Don’t be fooled by the current upheaval,” he said. “The DTV migration is regaining steam,” he said, promising Commission would continue its “aggressive role to assist in bringing the transition home.”

Senate Commerce Committee Chmn. Hollings (D-S.C.) remains interested in moving legislation that would consider subsidies to aid broadband rollout, but time ran out this session to float bill on which everyone could agree, said Kevin Kayes, panel’s Democratic staff dir. Kayes spoke Mon. on regulatory panel at Yankee Group Telecom Industry Forum in D.C. “It’s not such a far-fetched idea,” he said of subsidization possibilities. “It shouldn’t be dismissed out of hand.” While Senate drafters went through 4-5 versions of bill that would include subsidies, he told reporters after panel that in discussions with equipment-makers, incumbents and competitors: “Nobody was really ready to subsidize. There was sort of a feeling that this was interesting but nobody was really ready to do this.”

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- FCC Comr. Martin told USTA members Tues. he wasn’t sure about suitability of “connection-based” proposal for collecting universal service contributions from carriers, comment that was duly noted by participants on universal service panel later in day. Speaking at USTA’s annual convention here, Martin said proposal by SBC and BellSouth could have “deterring effect on advanced services.”

Leading advocacy group for wireless LANs renamed itself Wi-Fi Alliance. Founded in 1999 as Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA), Chmn. Dennis Eaton said name was changed because “Wi-Fi has become such a globally recognized brand.” Group has more than 170 members, including manufacturers of Wi-Fi connectivity devices such as Apple, Avaya, Cisco Systems, Linksys and 3Com; chip makers such as Broadcom and Intel; and PC manufacturers such as Dell, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard and IBM. Known for its multiple interoperability certifications, Wi-Fi Alliance has become active in Washington, having retained Wiley Rein & Fielding in its lobbying efforts on unlicensed spectrum issues.

Paul Fiddick, ex-Heritage Media, named pres., Emmis International… New Atlanta-based consulting firm is founded by Randy New, ex-BellSouth; Timothy Jackson, Newbridge Networks; William Norton, BellSouth; Susan Campbell, BellSouth… Stratton Sclavos, VeriSign, nominated to National Security Telecom Advisory Committee… Donna Gregg, ex-Wiley, Rein & Fielding, named vp-gen. counsel, CPB… Patricia Oleson, named vp-COO, Spectrum Astro… Mindy Tucker, ex-Loews Cineplex Entertainment, appointed vp- corporate development, Crown Media Holdings.

Amos Loveday, ex-Ohio State Historic Preservation Officer, named cultural resource specialist, FCC Wireless Bureau… Michael McCarthy, ex-Belo, named partner in Wiley, Rein & Fielding law firm, effective Oct. 1… Qwest board member Hank Brown resigns… Stephen Garcia, ex-CCC GlobalCom, appointed CFO, Universal Broadband Communications… Scott Sprague, named senior vp-global sales, New Skies… Ken Hill, appointed vp-sea operations, Sea Launch… Adam Schrage, ex-Enron Broadband, named vp- sales, Integra Telecom.

Despite hype, wireless LAN (Wi-Fi) industry still is in its infancy, and that has been reflected in lack of defined presence in Washington. However, as FCC examines use of unlicensed spectrum such as 2.4 GHz band used by Wi-Fi’s 802.11b standard and 5 MHz band used by 802.11a, several organizations are emerging to represent Wi-Fi’s interests at agency. Wi-Fi has multiple industry sectors participating in its growth, and separate paths appear to have been chosen by Wi-Fi hardware manufacturers and commercial access point, or hot spot, operators. Some believe uncertainty shown in those nascent lobbying efforts reflects disparity in predictions on how fast Wi-Fi is to grow and to what extent industry will become profitable.

Telecom industry will be closely watching Mich. today (Tues.) as influential Rep. Dingell (D-Mich.), 24-term incumbent, goes to polls in dead-heat primary against Rep. Rivers (D-Mich.), 4-term incumbent. While telecom issues have hardly scored blip in tightly contested campaign, race has become important to telecom interests, particularly those representing ILECs, CLECs and broadcasters, since leadership of House Commerce Committee is at stake. Dingell is ranking Democrat on Committee and co-author of Tauzin-Dingell bill (HR-1542), which would remove regulatory restrictions on Bell companies to deploy broadband Internet. Rivers, member of Education & Workforce Committee and Science Committee, has little involvement in telecom issues, but has drawn support from Tauzin-Dingell opponents. She has proved to be strong candidate against Dingell in newly redrawn 15th district, which now includes more liberal Democratic voters from Ann Arbor who are said to be more likely to vote for Rivers. In race, Rivers is portrayed as liberal, single mother who strongly supports gun control and abortion rights. Dingell is seen as more moderate, who touts experience and support from unions.

Scott Ford took over as AllTel CEO, replacing Joseph Ford, who remains chmn… Promotions at FCC Wireline Bureau, Access Policy Div.: Eric Einhorn to acting chief, Diane Law Hsu to acting deputy chief… Praveen Goyal, ex-FCC and Wiley, Rein & Fielding, named senior counsel in Covad Washington govt. affairs office… Horen Chen, ex-Mobilink Telecom, appointed pres.-CEO, Tropian… Lord Young, ex-Cable & Wireless, joins TTI Telecom board… Cesar Conde, Univision, named White House Fellow for development of Internet portal targeting Hispanic market… New officers at Wis. State Telecom Assn.: Thomas Squires, Manawa Telephone, pres.; Patrick Riordan, Nsight Telservices, vp… Appointed at Liberate Technologies: Colin Dixon, ex-Microsoft Web TV Div., becomes vp-applications & content; Jennifer Graham promoted to vp, mktg. communications.