FCC Republican to leave

Republican Commissioner Harold Furchtgott-Roth of the Federal Communications Commission will leave his post as soon as President Bush can name a replacement, the commissioner said Wednesday. Furchtgott-Roth has already served about seven months beyond his term and said he doesn't desire another. The FCC is short one of its five commissioners with the resignation earlier this month of Bill Kennard, and Furchtgott-Roth's willingness to wait for a replacement avoids the odd spectacle of a 2-1 Democratic majority in a Republican administration. Furchtgott-Roth was a consistent advocate for narrow interpretation of U.S. communications law and frequently questioned the FCC's right to review mergers and other business transactions.