President Obama as expected nominated Tuesday venture capitalist and entrepreneur Julius Genachowski to be chairman of the Federal Communications Commission.
Genachowski, a former FCC chief counsel, is co-founder and managing director of LaunchBox Digital and VC firm Rock Creek Ventures, and he is a special adviser at buyout shop General Atlantic Partners. He was a senior executive for eight years at IAC/InterActiveCorp, where his positions included chief of business operations and general counsel.
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Genachowski served at the FCC as chief counsel to Chairman Reed
Hundt, and earlier as special counsel to FCC General Counsel (later
Chairman) William Kennard. He was a law clerk for United States Supreme
Court Justice David H. Souter and, before that, for Justice William J.
Brennan Jr. Genachowski also served on the House staff of now Sen.
Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and also the staff of the House Select
Committee Investigating the Iran-Contra Affair.
Genachowski received a J.D. in 1991 from Harvard Law School and a B.A. in 1985 from Columbia College.
His nomination to the FCC was praised by fellow Democrats and public
advocacy groups. "President Obama has made an excellent choice," said
acting FCC Chairman Michael Copps. "Julius has the knowledge,
experience and dedication to lead this agency forward as we tackle the
many challenges confronting the country -- and the commission."
Josh Silver, executive director of Free Press, said Genachowski "has
shown a deep understanding of the central role of technology in shaping
our 21st-century economy and democracy."
Genachowski must be confirmed by the Senate. - Bill McConnell
