FCC Chairman Kevin Martin to join Aspen Institute

WASHINGTON -- Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin is leaving the agency Tuesday to join The Aspen Institute, a nonpartisan think tank.

Aspen spokesman James Spiegelman confirmed that Martin, a Republican, will be joining the institute as a senior fellow with its Communications and Society Program.

Martin, a North Carolina native, joined the FCC as a commissioner in July 2001 and was named chairman of the agency by President Bush in March of 2005, succeeding Michael Powell.

During his time at the commission, Martin, 42, pushed for deregulation in the telecommunications industry and more competition in the cable market. He also fought to crack down on broadcast indecency following Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction" during the 2004 Super Bowl half time show.

Before joining the FCC, Martin was a special assistant to President Bush for economic policy. He also served on the Bush-Cheney transition team and was deputy general counsel for the Bush campaign. Before that, Martin worked as an adviser to FCC Commissioner Harold Furchtgott-Roth.

President-elect Barack Obama is expected to nominate Julius Genachowski, a key technology adviser, to be the next FCC chairman.