In the past year, an independent counsel has examined Mr. Brown's ties to a broadcasting executive.

One broadcasting executive who knows Mr. Taft expressed surprise at the bid.

Jack R. Howard (1910 - 1998) was an American broadcasting executive.

"It's a wonderful bit of diplomatic judo," said a broadcasting executive here, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

One broadcasting executive estimated that the networks receive about $20 million in advertising revenues from professional football in each week of the season.

But the role of a White House official in setting up the office has raised questions among some public broadcasting executives about its independence.

"There's a reason everybody's struggling in the business," a senior broadcasting executive said.

What is more, Europe's broadcasting executives, including many French ones, are lobbying hard against quotas.

The big question is whether he is a capable broadcasting executive.

Still, some broadcasting executives said the Administration was opening the door to a broader definition of the public interest.