CommLaw Monitor

New FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski Takes Office, Announces Staff

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:50:33 -0400

Julius Genachowski became the Chairman of the FCC on June 29. Mr. Genachowski began announcing his staff the same day. His Chief of Staff is Ed Lazarus, most recently a lawyer in private practice in the Washington, D.C. office of the firm of Akin Gump. Like Chairman Genachowski, Mr. Lazarus served as a clerk for the U.S. Supreme Court (Justice Blackmun). In addition, the Chairman’s office announced two senior advisors and two legal advisors.

Colin Crowell will hold the title Senior Counselor to the Chairman. Mr. Crowell has spent more than 20 years working on telecommunications issues as a Congressional staff member for Congressman Ed Markey and the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications.

The other senior advisor is Bruce Gottlieb, who will serve as Chief Counsel to the Chairman. Mr. Gottlieb spent the prior three years as an advisor to FCC Commissioner Copps and, before that, was in private law practice in D.C. with the firm of Harris Wiltshire.

Priya Aiyar will hold the title of Legal Advisor focusing on wireline competition and international issues. She was most recently in private practice with the D.C. firm of Kellogg Huber. Ms. Aiyar also served as a Supreme Court clerk (Justice Breyer) and was a Rhodes Scholar.

Sherrese Smith will be the Legal Advisor for media, consumer and enforcement issues. Ms. Smith most recently was Vice President and General Counsel of Washington Post Digital and, before that, practiced law with the D.C. firm of Arnold and Porter.

Genachowski Heads to the Senate; Adelstein to Head to RUS

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 11:36:57 -0400

Changes at the FCC moved one step closer to fruition this week. On March 25, the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee confirmed that the White House has transmitted the nomination of Julius Genachowski to be Chairman of the FCC. No word yet on when the Senate will conduct confirmation hearings.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein, whose term had expired in 2008, has been nominated to head the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) within the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The RUS oversees grants and loans to support rural broadband service, and will have the responsibility to distribute $2.5 billion in stimulus money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Commissioner Adelstein has a history of supporting service in rural America.

We can think of no one better equipped to run the RUS in this important time for the entity.

President Obama Announces Nomination of Julius Genachowski as FCC Chairman

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 11:25:53 -0500

The “Obama FCC” took one giant step toward reality today when President Obama formally announced his “intention to nominate” Julius Genachowski as Chairman of the FCC. Genachowski’s nomination has been expected for some time, but apparently was delayed when President Obama revamped his process for vetting candidates after several high-profile withdrawals by key nominees.

Genachowski comes with stellar credentials including two Supreme Court clerkships, a prior stint as advisor to FCC Chairman Reed Hundt and several years at Barry Diller’s Internet company, IAC. Virtually every telecom organization took turns today praising the incoming chairman.

Genachowski is expected to further President Obama’s policies to promote broadband deployment and net neutrality. Genachowski’s nomination must be approved by the Senate, so he may not formally take office for a few months.