Michael Powell, who announced today he is resigning as FCC chairman, derserves much credit for achieving some success in turning the FCC in a less regulatory direction. He has a good understanding of today's new competitive marketplace realities, and he was articulate in explaining them to anyone with a receptive ear.

Still, a significant part of the job of the next chairman, and a real challenge, will be to help convince Congress--and the public--that we need a new market-oriented set of communications laws. And that the FCC itself needs to be transformed into a much slimmer and more accountable agency.