Julius Genachowski President Barack Obama now says he intends to nominate Julius Genachowski as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. The move has been expected for several weeks.
Genachowski, an Obama telecom advisor during the presidential campaign and a top aide to former FCC Chairman Reed Hundt, must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
The Harvard Law School classmate of Obama has held various positions at IAC/InterActiveCorp and more recently at technology investment firms RockCreek Ventures and LaunchBox Digital.
(More on the nomination from the Washington Post.)
“He will bring to the job diverse and unparalleled experience in communications and technology, with two decades of accomplishment in the private sector and public service,” Obama said in a statement.
Acting Chairman Michael Copps called Genachowski “an excellent choice” for the position, saying he “has the knowledge, experience and dedication to lead this agency forward as we tackle the many challenges confronting the country — and the commission.”
Robert McDowell, the lone Republican commissioner at present, said Genachowski will bring a valuable perspective to the commission with his experience, not only in government, but also in the private sector. Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein, a Democrat, called Genachowski the right person at the right time for the job, noting his practical understanding of the technology that the agency regulates.
NAB supports Genachowski as well; when word leaked in January that he would be named to the top post, NAB President/CEO David Rehr called Genachowski “a superb choice,” saying he “has a keen intellect, a passion for public service, and a deep understanding of the important role that free and local broadcasting plays in American life.”
