Julius Genachowski ’91 will be nominated to head the Federal Communications Commission, according to reports in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. If confirmed, he will take over the FCC’s work of regulating communications in the U.S.
Genachowski, a former HLS classmate of President-elect Barack Obama’s, worked at the FCC during the Clinton administration. Recently, he co-founded LaunchBox Digital, a Washington, D.C. venture capital firm. He also worked at IAC/InterActive Corp. in various executive positions after leaving the FCC.
During the campaign, Genachowski served as the top technology advisor to Obama, putting together a detailed technology and innovation plan that supported open Internet or “net neutrality” protections; media ownership rules that encourage diversity; and expansion of affordable broadband across the country. He was also a key adviser to the transition team.
He will succeed current FCC chairman Kevin Martin ’93.
One of the first tasks he will face is the U.S.’s transition to digital-only television, which is scheduled to take place February 17 but could be pushed back to the summer.