Obama’s new FCC chairman to face a range of difficult issues
Analysts: Genachowski to push for open Internet, network neutrality in FCC wireless regulations
January 13 2009 - 12:14 pm ET | Jeffrey Silva | RCR Wireless News
Genachowski
Genachowski’s bio
Education:
-Harvard Law School; JD and Columbia; BA
Former positions:
-Chief of business operations and a member of the Office of the Chairman of IAC/InterActiveCorp.
-Board member of Expedia, Inc, Hotels.com and Ticketmaster, among others.
-Special advisor with General Atlantic
-Chief counsel to former chairman Reed Hundt of the FCC
-Law clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter.
(Source: General Atlantic)
President-elect Barack Obama plans this week to nominate former telecom policymaker and tech entrepreneur Julius Genachowski as the next chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, according to knowledgeable sources.
Genachowski, a Harvard Law School classmate of Obama’s who is a tech adviser on the presidential transition team, is well-regarded in telecom circles because of his intellect, policy knowledge and a personality described as easy-going and well-grounded. His anticipated nomination would require Senate confirmation by the Democratic-controlled Senate.
“Julius Genachowski is an outstanding choice for FCC chairman,” said Gigi Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge. “As the architect of President-elect Obama’s Technology and Innovation Plan, it is clear that he understands the importance of open networks and a regulatory environment that promotes innovation and competition to a robust democracy and a health economy ... Julius also understands that in a democracy, government must be transparent and give the people the tools to participate actively. Thus, I am certain that he will seek to restore public confidence in an agency that has had a long history of opaqueness, industry capture and a lack of data-driven policymaking. His collegial management style will also help rebuild morale at the agency.”
A full plate
Genachowski would face major wireless policy and administrative challenges in a severe economic downturn at the FCC, which under outgoing Chairman Kevin Martin has been criticized by Congress and industry as secretive, demoralized and dysfunctional generally. The wireless industry, which has undergone dramatic consolidation the past eight years, is saddled with controversies involving spectrum and license concentration, roaming, open access, universal service fund/intercarrier compensation reform, carrier equipment exclusivity arrangements, the 700 MHz D-Block public safety/commercial re-auction, advanced wireless services-3, backup-power rules, migratory birds and towers and privacy, among other issues.
It is possible that Obama could name one of the two FCC Democrats — Michael Copps or Jonathan Adelstein — to serve as acting chairman until the Senate acts on the nomination of Genachowski. The first big test for the next FCC chairman is expected to be the troubled digital TV transition, currently set for Feb. 17. Obama has asked Congress to postpone the DTV switch-over because of various problems, a prospect that troubles mobile-phone carriers that paid nearly $20 billion for licenses in the 700 MHz band from which broadcasters will depart.
“Julius Genachowski is an outstanding choice to chair the commission,” said Ken Ferree, president of The Progress & Freedom Foundation. “He is knowledgeable, experienced and presumably will have the ear of the most influential people within the administration. PFF looks forward to working with Mr. Genachowski and the agency under his leadership.”
Genachowski was chief counsel to former FCC chairman Reed Hundt, who during the Clinton administration injected competition into the then-duopoly wireless industry by conducting the first-ever spectrum auctions. Genachowski is co-founder of Rock Creek Ventures and LaunchBox Digital, which invest in digital media firms. He also has served a special adviser to General Atlantic L.LC., a global growth equity company.
Possible agenda
“We would expect Mr. Genachowski to pursue the Obama communications agenda (which he helped develop) of promoting greater broadband deployment and access, an open Internet and network neutrality, competition and innovation, and media diversity, among other broad goals,” said analysts at Stifel, Nicolaus & Co. Inc.
The analysts added: “While it remains to be seen how that agenda will play out in specific policies and industry impact, we believe the regulatory initiative is likely to shift some from incumbents — and the Bells in particular — to new entrants and other non-traditional telecom and media players, including Internet application/content providers. … We suspect Mr. Genachowski would seek to spur and protect competition from wireless carriers and others as a counterweight to telco/cable wired broadband dominance; for example, by being more open to wireless and CLEC (competitive local exchange carrier) concerns about Bell ‘special access’ rates and terms, and more skeptical of incumbent telco phone deregulation/forbearance efforts. How he would deal with intercarrier compensation and universal service is unclear, but we suspect he would seek a rough compromise that spreads potential pain around.”
January 26, 2009 06:55 am
I know no one can make law or rule or decision 100% everybody happy.The more important is when he or she make decision,what is base on.Like what is better for USA or better for people.Other hnd how we can Min. damage control.I know US wireless Tech. we are 5 to 7 years behind.I guess too many law doesn't help for development.
January 18, 2009 03:26 am
A BIG MISTAKE -- AS THIS GUY WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE ARCHITECTS AND DEFINATELY A BENEFICIARY OF THE UNDEMOCRATIC 1996 TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT - WHICH TOOK THE RIGHTS AWAY FROM THE AMERICAN CITIZENS TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST THE SITINGS OF MOBILE PHONE TOWERS ON THE BASIS OF HEALTH OR ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS! NUMEROUS STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT THOSE LIVING CLOSE TO CELL TOWERS START TO EXHIBIT A HOST OF BIZARRE SYMPTOMS, HAVE LOWERED SEROTONIN COUNTS, ALTERED MELATONIN, AND AFTER FIVE YEARS CANCER CLUSTERS START TO FORM AROUND THESE TOWERS OF DEATH!!!
January 13, 2009 04:57 pm
"...and a lack of data-driven policymaking..." Boy I'll say.
January 13, 2009 04:57 pm
It's about time people started talking about what a mess the outgoing chairman has made of things. Just another example of how prosperous this country is in that someone like Martin can get away with what he has done for so long. The first major challenge Mr. Genachowski will be faced with is putting the FCC back on a course that people will trust and particpate in.
January 13, 2009 01:26 pm
Of course Congress and the wireless industry blasts the outgoing chairman unless the chairman jumps when they speak, he is against them.