Kurth Out of Commissioner Race

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, confirmed that Christine Kurth, deputy staff director of the Senate Commerce Committee, has withdrawn from consideration for nomination to the FCC.
Stevens said after discussions with the administration, Kurth chose to drop out of consideration because of the strict interpretation of the “covered relationship” rule as it pertains to the commission. Kurth’s husband is a telecom consultant. Should Kurth have been nominated and confirmed as a commissioner, either her husband would have been required to stop working or Kurth would have needed to recuse herself
from various matters even in cases where her husband was not working on the issue.
The open seat belonged to Kevin Martin before he ascended to the chairmanship.