Senate confirms Genachowski as FCC chairman

26.06.2009
The U.S. Senate has confirmed Julius Genachowski, a former technology adviser to President Barack Obama's campaign and transition team, as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission.

Genachowski, who was once a senior executive at e-commerce company IAC/InterActiveCorp, succeeds Kevin Martin, who led the FCC for four years under former President George Bush. Commissioner Michael Copps, a Democrat, has been the acting chairman since Martin resigned on Jan. 20, Inauguration Day. Genachowski was confirmed on Thursday.

In his Senate confirmation hearings, Genachowski said he would make affordable broadband Internet access for everyone a priority for the FCC. He also said the agency should be more transparent and share more information online, an area where Martin came under fire.

Also on Thursday, Obama nominated Meredith Attwell Baker, a Republican, to fill the vacated seat of Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate. Baker has served as acting assistant secretary for communications and information and acting administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. Obama also made official his nomination of Democrat Mignon Clyburn, a member of the Public Service Commission of South Carolina, to succeed Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein.