Hot on Facebook

Guy Buys $123 Safe on eBay, Finds $26,000 Inside Seller tries to get half the cash back, fails »

Obama to Name Tech Adviser as FCC Chair

Genachowski choice praised by media reform movement

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 13, 2009 2:25 PM CST

(Newser) – Barack Obama is expected to announce Julius Genachowski as his FCC chairman, and media reform groups are enthusiastic about the choice, Ars Technica reports. Genachowski served in the FCC during the Clinton administration and in the dot-com industry before becoming Obama’s technology adviser. He helped craft the President-elect’s media plan, which one supporter said would steer the FCC “toward the public interest.”

The Technology and Innovation Plan states that “the nation's rules ensuring diversity of media ownership are critical to the public interest.” This heartens those critical of the Bush administration’s relentless push toward consolidation. “He understands the importance of open networks and a regulatory environment that promotes innovation and competition,” one watcher said of Genachowski. Industry groups have yet to weigh in on the choice.

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (1)]

Julius Genachowski. (©irina slutsky)

Current FCC Chairman Kevin Martin. (AP Photo)

President-elect Barack Obama. (AP Photo)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

Rules ensuring diversity of media ownership are critical to the public interest. Unfortunately, over the past several years, the Federal Communications Commission has promoted the concept of consolidation over diversity. - Obama Technology and Innovation Plan

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Cash Flows to Add Broadband, But Feds Don't Have Plan

FCC has until Feb.; ISPs get stimulus now

(NEWSER) - The Federal Communications Commission is beginning to draw up a plan to deliver broadband internet to every home in the US, the Washington Post reports. But as the FCC accepts public comment and reviews policy in the year it has to draft the plan, broadband providers will be using stimulus cash to build new infrastructure—without the guidance of a national blueprint. More»

Obama Moves to Root Out 'Dumb' Regulations

New executive order will trim, streamline rules

(NEWSER) - Republicans have said that deregulation will be a major part of their platform, but it looks like President Obama is beating them to the punch. The president will sign an executive order today mandating “a government-wide review of the rules already on the books” that aims to “root out regulations that conflict, are not worth the cost, or that are just plain dumb,” Obama writes today in an op-ed piece for the Wall Street Journal . More»

Our Most Urgent Free Speech Issue: Net Neutrality

FCC's draft regulations 'worse than nothing'

(NEWSER) - Tomorrow, the FCC will discuss regulations on net neutrality—the principle that the biggest corporation and the humblest blogger should have equal access to viewers on the Internet. The FCC could protect this freedom, but its draft regulations “don't do that at all,” writes Sen. Al Franken on the Huffington Post . “They're worse than nothing,” effectively allowing Internet providers to “block lawful content, applications, and devices on mobile Internet connections.” More»

FCC Chair Pushes to Regulate ISPs

Proposal might amount to net neutrality order

(NEWSER) - FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski is making yet another valiant stab at introducing net neutrality or something like it today. In a speech today, Genachowski will propose a new regulatory framework that would forbid Internet broadband providers from blocking lawful content, the New York Times reports. The rules would also allow providers to charge different rates for different levels of service, and to manage traffic to limit congestion or harmful traffic. More»

FCC Battles Cell Phone 'Bill Shock'

Haiti volunteer hit with $30K in roaming charges

(NEWSER) - A FEMA worker supporting the earthquake relief effort in Haiti was hit with a $30,000 bill for roaming charges when she arrived back in the US. Federal regulators say this kind of cell phone "bill shock" is all too common, and they hope to curb it with regulations that will help consumers avoid unknowingly running up huge bills, ABC reports. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Obama to Name Tech Adviser as FCC Chair