Robert McDowell, a Republican commissioner with the Federal Communications Commission, on Tuesday heaped praises on his departing colleague, Michael Copps, a Democrat with the most experience at the agency as a commissioner.
Copps, who has served as an FCC commissioner for roughly the last decade, announced last week that he planned to resign effective Jan. 1.
McDowell referred to his colleague as a "statesman" and "without a doubt, my favorite principled liberal."
"If Neil Simon were to write a play about us, it would surely be called The Odd Couple. But unlike Oscar and Felix, we did not drive each other crazy," McDowell said. "Quite the opposite. We worked together more than most FCC observers probably realize."
In a statement Dec. 6, Copps characterized his years at the FCC as a "privilege" and "honor."
"The FCC is an agency of true excellence and its decisions are integral to our country's future," said Copps. "Ubiquitous, opportunity-creating broadband and a resource-rich media capable of informing our civic dialogue are critically-important components of our future success as a people, and I intend to keep speaking about these challenges as a private citizen in the years ahead."
As Copps prepares to depart the agency, new blood is expected to arrive soon: FCC nominees Jessica Rosenworcel and Ajit Pai are waiting to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Lawyers Pai and Rosenworcel are no strangers to the FCC; they both worked at the agency in various jobs. In fact, Rosenworcel served as Copps' senior legal advisor during part of the eight years she was employed at the FCC.
