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Two Michaels and the Media. Inexplicably filed under "Entertainment," this story appeared in Yahoo! News:

WASHINGTON (Variety) Reminding the divided ranks that he's in control, Federal Communications Commission chairman Michael Powell made it clear Thursday that Democratic commissioner Michael Copps had no authority to schedule official public hearings on media ownership rules.

Copps, who insists that more of a national debate is needed before the rules are voted on, did not consult Powell, a Republican, before announcing in a press release that he was scheduling two commission hearings, in Seattle and Durham, N.C.

Powell directed the agency to issue a corrected press release, which states that the hearings being arranged by Copps are "field" hearings, not FCC events.

In recent days, Powell has appeared frustrated by the growing outcry over the agency's review of an unprecedented number of regs, an outcry based in part on the perception that the chairman is keen on deregulation.

If the FCC rules in question are undone, companies like News Corp. and Viacom Inc. could expand their empires.

Powell's frustration is our joy. Via Convergence Chaser.

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