Julius Genachowski will become a fellow at the Aspen Institute when he steps down as FCC chairman later this month. The think tank announced the news.
Agency observers think Genachowski will announce his exit date during the FCC’s open meeting next Thursday, April 18.
“The Internet and mobile are having a transformative impact on our economy and society,” stated Genachowski. “The Institute has an unparalleled ability to convene business, government and nonprofit leaders to address the effect of digital technologies on many of the world’s most vexing problems, and I’m looking forward to being involved in that effort.”
The move makes Genachowski the fifth former FCC Chairman in a row to become a senior fellow of the Aspen Institute, following Kevin Martin, Michael Powell, Bill Kennard and Reed Hundt.
The organization believes the fellowship offers senior leaders in the field an opportunity to think through their tenure on the commission and to reflect on their accomplishments, formulate agendas and issues for the future, according to Charlie Firestone, executive director of the Aspen Institute’s Communications and Society Program. “Freed of the possibility of moving markets by the mere intonation of their comments, these leaders can frame the issues going forward in new and important ways.”
