FCC Chairman Who Caused Static With Congress Resigns

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Dennis R. Patrick has submitted his resignation to the White House but will remain in his post until a replacement is named, the agency said today.

Patrick’s resignation had been widely expected after the Bush Administration came into office. The controversial former California attorney had battled frequently with Congress on his deregulatory approach during his two years as head of the commission.

A replacement for Patrick, 37, was not immediately announced.

FCC spokeswoman Maureen Peratino said Patrick hand-carried the letter of resignation to the White House on Tuesday. Patrick gave the letter to Chase Untermeyer, who is White House personnel director.

A number of names have been mentioned as possible replacements for Patrick, including Sherrie Marshall, a former Patrick aide at the FCC who was on loan to the White House during the unsuccessful confirmation proceedings for Defense Secretary-designate John Tower.

Possible Replacements

Washington attorneys Susan Wing and Jim Smith have also been mentioned, along with Alfred Sikes, head of the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

Patrick’s term was to run until June, 1992. He was named an FCC commissioner in December, 1983, after working in the White House personnel office. He succeeded former FCC Chairman Mark S. Fowler in April, 1987.

Since that time, the FCC has repealed the Fairness Doctrine that required broadcasters to air programs on controversial issues, and it dramatically changed the way in which the American Telephone & Telegraph Co. establishes its long-distance rates.

Patrick more than two years ago proposed the so-called price cap plan for AT&T; to replace the FCC’s 20-year-old rate-of-return regulatory philosophy, and he succeeded in having the commission adopt it last month after a steady war of words with critics in Congress.

Deregulatory Approach

Under Patrick, the commission also has moved to change the way broadcasters are licensed and generally has followed the deregulatory approach that was established during the Reagan Administration.

The commission has been at less than full strength since early last year. Nominations to fill the vacant two seats on the five-member commission had been held up because of Senate displeasure with Patrick’s policies.

There was no immediate response to Patrick’s resignation from fellow Commissioners James H. Quello and Patricia Diaz Dennis.