FCC chairman's talk is low-key

SAN FRANCISCO, April 6 (UPI) -- Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin Struck told a cable TV meeting in San Francisco competition has to come before deregulation.

The Hollywood Reporter says Martin, who succeeded Michael Powell as FCC chairman two weeks ago, struck a moderate tone, avoiding "the quips and shoot-from-the-hip banter" The Reporter said Powell used to employ in his public appearances. Martin took part in a q-and-a session with Fox News Channel's Stuart Varney at the National Cable & Telecommunications Association convention.

Martin is widely regarded as more aggressive than his predecessor on relaxing rules on broadcast ownership, but his remarks in San Francisco sounded a moderate tone.

"We prefer markets and competition to regulation wherever possible," Martin said. "You've got to have competition first and then deregulation."

Martin also is thought to be more inclined than Powell was toward tougher regulation of broadcast indecency, but The Reporter said he "artfully dodged" the question at the NCTA conference.

"The indecency issue is certainly one that has been in front of the commission for a long time," he said. "There are legitimate concerns about what is appropriate and what is not appropriate for our children to see on TV."