A senior Media Bureau official at the Federal Communications Commission is leaving next month to join the private communications-law practice being formed by former Media Bureau chief Ken Ferree.
Special adviser Erin Dozier is expected to start work with her former boss at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP in early December. After joining the FCC in early 2002, Dozier worked closely with Ferree while he headed the bureau under former FCC chairman Michael Powell.
In an interview Tuesday, Ferree confirmed Dozier’s move. He also indicated that a second Media Bureau official was expected to join his team, but he said it was premature to make an announcement.
Ferree joined Sheppard, Mullin in October after a brief stint as a senior official at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
As special adviser on media ownership, Dozier assisted with the review of big media mergers, including the pending takeover of Adelphia Communications Corp. by Comcast Corp. and Time Warner Inc.
Dozier also advised Ferree on the preparation of controversial media-ownership rules that the FCC adopted in June 2003, which were later largely overturned by a Federal Appeals Court one year later.
Ferree -- charged with developing a federal communications practice at his new firm -- said Dozier was an attractive candidate because during his time at the FCC, she was one of the best people with whom he worked.
