Rosel H. Hyde
Rosel H. Hyde was the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) twice, serving under four different United States presidents. The FCC is directed by five commissioners appointed by the president of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate for five-year terms, except when filling an unexpired term. The U.S. president designates one of the commissioners to serve as chairman.[1]
President Harry S. Truman named him FCC commissioner in April 1946. He was chairman from April 18, 1953, to October 3, 1954, under Dwight D. Eisenhower, and again from June 27, 1966, to October 31, 1969, under Lyndon B. Johnson. He was also acting chairman from April 19, 1954, to October 3, 1954, and again from May 1, 1966, to June 26, 1966. He holds the distinction of being the only FCC commissioner ever named chairman by a U.S. president not of the same political party (Johnson was a Democrat, Hyde a Republican).
He retired from government service in October 1969 during President Richard Nixon’s presidency. He then became a partner in a Washington law firm until 1990.
Hyde moved to Washington in 1924 to work for the Civil Service Commission and study law at George Washington University. He joined what was then the Federal Radio Commission (later the FCC, founded in 1934) in 1928. During his time in the FCC, Hyde passed the bar and then took on the role of associate attorney, attorney, attorney examiner (administrative law judge), senior attorney, principal attorney, assistant general counsel, and finally became general counsel.
He helped participate in spectrum allocation meetings that led to the formation of FM radio and TV broadcasting.
He also participated in the 1935 FCC frequency allocation hearings and in the 1938 network investigation that led to the inauguration of regular FM and TV broadcasting in 1941.
Hyde staunchly defended the Fairness Doctrine, a regulation that required broadcasters to air both sides of a controversial issue. The regulation was abolished during the Reagan administration. He was instrumental in the 1969 prohibition of cigarette advertising on radio and television.
Hyde received the National Association of Broadcasters Distinguished Service Award in 1970. He also received a Gold Medal Award from the International Radio and Television Society in 1965.
He was born in Downey, Idaho, on April 12, 1900, and attended Utah Agricultural College in Logan, Utah. He was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He and his wife, Mary, had four children.
