Obama's FCC Pick Brings Reformer Label

Tech adviser Genachowski lauded to lead troubled agency
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 4, 2009 1:37 PM CST
Obama's FCC Pick Brings Reformer Label
Julius Genachowski is seen here in his 1991 Harvard yearbook photo. He and Obama met at Harvard.

President Obama has officially named Harvard pal and technical adviser Julius Genachowski to head the Federal Communications Commission, NPR reports. It’s Genachowski’s second tour—he worked at the FCC during the Clinton administration—and he’s being applauded on both sides of the aisle. Most are hoping the big-thinking Net neutrality proponent can clean up after the much-panned reign of outgoing chairman Kevin Martin.

“Julius essentially drafted Obama’s technology and innovation plan,” said the head of one tech-advocacy group. He also enjoys a great deal of trust in the business world, since he once served as head of a major Internet company. Besides, he can’t be much worse than the last guy. “This past FCC has been a disaster,” opined Ronald Reagan’s FCC chairman. “It is almost semi-corrupt.” (More Julius Genachowski stories.)

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