FCC's Meredith Attwell Baker headed to Comcast job

The cable industry should churn out a new slogan: "You've got a friend at the FCC." First former FCC Chairman Michael Powell turns up as head of the industry's top trade organization, the NCTA. Now FCC Commissioner Meredith Attwell Baker, months after voting to approve Comcast's (Nasdaq: CMCSA) merger with NBCUniversal, says she's leaving the commission to become senior vice president of government affairs, reporting to Kyle McSlarrow, the man Powell replaced as boss at the NCTA.

"This is just the latest--though perhaps most blatant--example of a so-called public servant cashing in at a company she is supposed to be regulating," railed consumer rights organization Free Press President-CEO Craig Aaron in a news release. "No wonder the public is so nauseated by business as usual in Washington--where the complete capture of government by industry barely raises any eyebrows."

Free Press was an adamant opponent to the Comcast-NBCU deal. Baker, a Republican, will leave her post June 3 after nearly two years on the job where she demonstrated strong free market views, opposed net neutrality regulations and sought reforms to streamline FCC merger processes.

For more:
- The Hill has this story
- see this Free Press news release

Related articles:
FCC's Baxter questions agency's power in Comcast approval process
McSlarrow finds a spot with Comcast in Washington; Powell reportedly in line for job
NCTA names Michael Powell president-CEO