WASHINGTON (AP) - Michael K. Powell, who called for an easing of regulations when he became the Federal Communications Commission's chairman but later supported levying the largest-ever fines for broadcast indecency, plans to step down, officials said Friday.

Powell, who has held the job for four years, planned to issue a statement Friday but was not expected to hold a formal news conference, these officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Powell, the son of departing Secretary of State Colin Powell, does not plan to step down immediately, the officials said. However, he will leave soon.

Jonathan Cody, a friend of Powell and his FCC adviser on media ownership issues, said Friday that Powell planned to step down in March, but said he did not know the nature of his plans.

Powell assessed his tenure at the FCC during the holidays and felt that he had accomplished what he set out to do in advancing digital technologies in telecommunications, Cody said.

"He took a look broadly at what we've done and felt that it was the right time to pass the reigns on," Cody added.

Powell privately informed some industry officials that he planned to make the announcement, according to one person who spoke with the chairman earlier this week. This person also spoke on condition of anonymity out of respect for the timing of Powell's announcement.

Powell, a champion of deregulation who critics say is too pro-big business, rose from commissioner to chairman when Bush took office in 2001. His term was to run until 2007.

While tackling complex issue ranging from telephone competition to rules for media ownership, Powell is perhaps best known for overseeing a dramatic crackdown on broadcast indecency that began before the infamous "wardrobe malfunction" during singer Janet Jackson's Super Bowl halftime performance last February.

The FCC received more than 1 million indecency complaints in 2004, most of them involving Jackson. CBS is contesting a proposed FCC fine of $550,000 for the incident.

Fines for indecent programming exceeded $7.7 million last year, a huge increase from the $48,000 imposed the year before Powell became chairman. Powell has praised the record fines, saying the commission was "wielding our sword" to protect children and viewers who object to racy programming.

"It's the most uncomfortable area you'd ever want to work in, enforcement," Powell said of indecency fines at a July 2004 symposium. "I'm a big believer in the First Amendment, but often I'm incredibly uneasy about lines we have to draw. No one takes pleasure in trying to decide whether this potty-mouth word or that potty-mouth word is a violation of the law."

No show produced more FCC fines than that of raunchy radio personality Howard Stern, who last October confronted Powell in a surprise phone call while the FCC chairman was a guest on KGO-AM radio in San Francisco.

Stern accused Powell of using the FCC to stifle free speech on radio and TV and contended Powell got the job because of his family name. Powell responded, "I think it's a cheap shot to say just because my father is famous, I don't belong in my position."

Powell also told Stern, "I don't think that, you know, we have made any particular crusade of the Howard Stern show or you."

Powell led the Republican-dominated FCC in easing decades-old rules governing ownership of newspapers and television and radio stations. The commission approved changes in 2003 that allow individual companies to own TV stations reaching nearly half the nation's viewers and combinations of newspapers and broadcast outlets in the same community.

Major media companies said the changes were needed because the old regulations hindered their ability to grow and compete in a market altered by cable television, satellite broadcasting and the Internet.

But lawmakers from both parties and a broad range of groups criticized the changes, saying the FCC regulations give large media companies too much control over what people see, hear and read.

Congress and the courts are considering several efforts to modify or repeal the rules.
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Him, like his Father and like Tenet have done there jobs being a tool long enough for the uber rich. interest is.

good riddance

Daddy, wait for meeeee!

--PunkDavid

to utter garbage

Why don't we just dispose of the entire decency department of the FCC while we're at it?

I kinda hope he whips it out at the press confrence.

how was he a tool for the rich? believe me, i think the guy has done horrible things, an in my opinion the worst, is driving stern off of regular radio. as most know, im ok with some harsh language, and the thing that pisses me off the most, is the people who were offended by what stern said, only listened to him to be offended. change the fucking channel you asswipes

howard stern wins again.

i wish i could listen to howard to hear him ranting about this....i always found the most interesting thing about sterns show was the political discussoin, believe it or not

as soon as he did that, i thought the show went to shit