FCC's Chief Counsel Jane Mago to Speak Friday Afternoon

October 1, 2003

October 1, 2003, Greencastle, Ind. - Jane E. Mago, chief counsel for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will speak at DePauw University, Friday, October 3, at 4:15 p.m. in Watson Forum of the Eugene S. Pulliam Center for Contemporary Media. In her talk, which is free and open to the public, Mago will discuss the recent and controversial FCC ruling, vetoed by the US Senate last week, that would allow television networks to own local TV stations that collectively reach up to 45 percent of the national television audience, up from 35 percent. The new rules would also permit one company to own a newspaper, a television station and several radio stations in a single market, lifting a decades-old ban on cross-ownership. A company would also be permitted to own two local television stations in more local markets.

A 23-year veteran of the Federal Communications Commission, Jane Mago has worked for three FCC Commissioners: as common carrier adviser to Anne P. Jones; senior adviser to Rachelle B. Chong; and senior adviser to then-Commissioner Michael Powell. As general counsel from 2001-2003, Mago returned to the office where she spent much of her career at the FCC, as a litigation attorney and as assistant general counsel for trial and enforcement.

Mago also served as deputy chief of the FCC's enforcement bureau from the time it was created in 1999, until January 2001, when she took the reigns of the general counsel's office. She was acting general counsel from January until May 14, 2001, when Chairman Micheal Powell named her permanent general counsel. She previously served as a deputy chief of the land mobile and microwave division in the former private radio bureau. She started her career at the FCC as a staff attorney in common carrier bureau.

During the course of her long service at the FCC, Ms. Mago has worked on a variety of issues, including satellite licensing, common carrier regulations, as well as broadcasting matters, such as indecency and children's television requirements. Her expertise in communications law and administrative procedures is well recognized in the communications industry.

Jane Mago received a J.D. from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1978. She also holds a B.A. and M.A. in communications from that university. She is a member of the New York State Bar and Federal Communications Bar Association. Her DePauw speech is presented by the Media Fellows program.

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