The chairman of America's Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Michael Powell submitted his resignation today and confirmed that he will leave the regulator in March.

Powell was a controversial figure in American broadcasting during his time at the FCC. After the now-infamous Super Bowl incident involving Janet Jackson and her exposed nipple, Powell pushed to tighten indecency regulations and impose higher fines on broadcasters who violated the rules. Critics of Powell's deceny agenda point out that "decency" was never clearly defined by the FCC, even leading some ABC affiliates to not air Saving Private Ryan for fear that the regulator would slap them with fines. That argument, alongside freedom of speech concerns, remains an ongoing debate in American broadcasting. Shock jock Howard Stern decided to leave FCC-regulated terrestrial radio in favour of a satellite radio platform due to concerns that his speech would be limited. Today, Stern was audibly pleased with Powell's decision.

"Thank God he's gone," said Stern. "This is a great day in broadcasting."

Powell also pushed for higher media ownership limits, another move that drew heavy criticism from groups fearing a substantial reduction in plurality in local markets; however, America's big TV networks argued that the changes were essential in order for them to compete against cable. In June 2003, the FCC raised the cap on how much of the US national TV market one company can own from 35% to 45%, although this was later reduced by Congress to 39%.

Despite the controversy, the FCC under Powell also made decisions that were received positively by consumers, including the establishment of a "Do Not Call" list that allows phone subscribers to ban telemarketers from calling them; mobile phone number portability; and efforts to encourage the spread of Wi-Fi hotspots.

"Having completed a bold and aggressive agenda, it is time for me to pursue other opportunities and let someone else take the reins of the agency," said Powell today. "During my tenure, we worked to get the law right in order to stimulate innovative technology that puts more power in the hands of the American people, giving them greater choices that enrich their lives. Evidence of our success can be seen increasingly in the offices, the automobiles and the living rooms of the American consumer."