Let’s Go to Howard in New York: A Stern Call to Powell

The talk wasn’t blue. But Howard Stern still had Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael K. Powell hot under the collar Tuesday.

Stern, who is moving in 2006 to satellite radio to avoid the anti-indecency rules the FCC applies to traditional broadcasters, called in during Powell’s appearance on San Francisco talk radio station KGO-AM. The famously offensive Stern yakked so much that the host pleaded with him to let Powell get a word in.

During more than 10 minutes of finger-pointing, Stern accused Powell of nepotism and political opportunism, of conducting a vendetta against him and his current employer, Viacom Inc., and even of bad manners.

“The commissioner has fined me millions of dollars for things that I’ve said and consistently avoids me ... and I’m wondering how long he will stay on the phone with me,” said Stern, telling Powell: “You honestly are an enigma to me.”

The FCC has proposed fining radio stations that carried Stern’s raunchy talk show more than $2 million; that includes $495,000 against Clear Channel Communications Inc., which dumped Stern from six stations.

The commission found the stations had violated FCC rules barring broadcasters from airing indecent material when children were likely to be listening, typically from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

On KGO, Stern complained about Powell’s enforcement of the rules and said they undermined his constitutional right to free speech: “You are the arbiter, you are the one that tells us what we can and can’t say on the air, and yet I really don’t even think you are qualified to be the head of the commission. Do you deny that your father got you this job?”

Powell’s father is Secretary of State Colin L. Powell.

The younger Powell responded, in part: “I think you have a right to be concerned about the way the indecency fines are done. But rather than attack me personally, you can challenge the regime. It’s a cheap shot to say just because my father’s famous I don’t belong in my position.”