The courts may decide whether certain features like show sharing and commercial skip follow current laws, but I doubt they will ban them outright.

The FCC has a lot of regulatory power and so has been pressured by the media companies to regulate the PVR market. It looks like Powell's christmas present just foiled this plan.

Finally, laws can always be changed. Most of the wrangling will likely be on congress, where Powell has some pull and some power in implementation.

As far as real power, I think he has a lot of power to do harm, but only limited power to do good. What this means is merely that there is one less person to worry about going on a crusade against time-shifting and one more voice lending credibility.

-Biscuits