Obama to select Julius Genachowski for FCC

[WilliamPitt]

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/13/obama-to-select-genachowski-to-lead-fcc/?hp

Thoughts?

[Parche]

1. This Is What I Think

Julius Genachowski is giving Will Pitt his daily briefing. He concludes by saying: "Yesterday, 3 Brazilian soldiers were killed."

"OH NO!" Will Pitt exclaims. "That's terrible!"

His staff sits stunned at this display of emotion, nervously watching as Will Pitt sits, head in hands.

Finally, Will Pitt looks up and asks, "How many is a brazillion?"

[WilliamPitt]

12. You suck.

:P

[TimeChaser]

2. Reading the article...

"He advocated an open Internet in the debate over so-called “net neutrality,’’ "

Sounds pretty good to me, I don't know much about him, though

[Thrill]

3. Good Pick. But I thought he was rumored to be the new CTO?

[onenote]

8. apparently the CTO position won't have a significant policy voice

so Julius pushed for FCC chair.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. Rick Warren.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8085234#8085243

[joeunderdog]

5. This is a BIG deal. BushCo made the FCC the 1st order of business

as a means of deregulating the airwaves. Now we have Fox and ClearChannel dictating what information we get. It's why everyone was always on message and it's why alot of the ridiculous RW policies got sold to John Q Public.

[klook]

6. "...advocated an open Internet

...in the debate over so-called “net neutrality,’’ and media-ownership rules that promote a diversity of voices on the airwaves."

Works for me.

[Ichingcarpenter]

7. Silicon Valley likes him

In the Valley, the news was met with mostly cheers. Venture capitalist Fred Wilson cooked up a list of reasons why Genachowski’s nomination would be good. High up on the list: Genachowski is also a VC, knows Washington and also has been a tech executive at Barry Diller’s IAC so he’s used to complicated structures.


http://www.avc.com/a_vc/2009/01/this-news-made.html

This is so great on so many levels. Let's start with the first reason. The new head of the FCC reads this blog. He's heard me talk about the issues he'll now make policy on. And he's heard your views on those issues.

Here's the second reason. He's a venture capitalist, at least that's what he's been doing for the past couple years.

Here's the third reason. He's an internet executive, at least that's what he did for most of this decade when he helped Barry Diller assemble and build IAC.

Here's the fourth reason. He's the guy who talked me into meeting Barack Obama back in 2007 and ultimately supporting Obama. He went to law school with Barack and has known him for 20 years.

Here's the fifth reason. He's not new to the FCC, having worked there during the Clinton administration.

Here's the sixth reason. He knows his way around Washington. Before the FCC, he clerked for Brennan and Souter on the Supreme Court.

Here's the seventh reason. He's smart as shit. I suppose you didn't need me to tell you that given his resume.

Here's the eigth reason. He's right on all the issues. But don't take it from me, here's a snippet from the WSJ piece:

During the campaign, Mr. Genachowski served as the top technology adviser to Mr. Obama, putting together a detailed technology and innovation plan that expressed support for open Internet or "net neutrality" protections; media-ownership rules that encourage more diversity; and expansion of affordable broadband access across the country.

Here's the ninth reason. He's one of us (I guess you didn't need me to tell you that either). He's even got a Wikipedia entry.

Here's the tenth and final reason. He's a super nice, decent, honest guy.

[Dennis Donovan]

9. He worked at the FCC during the 1996 Telecom Act's passing:

From his Wikipedia page:

"He was formerly a senior official at the Federal Communications Commission. Genachowski served as General Counsel to the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission under Chairman Reed Hundt, after serving as Special Counsel to General Counsel of the FCC (later Chairman) William Kennard."

It was during this time that the Telecommunications Act of 1996 was passed. From its Wikipedia page::

"The Act was claimed to foster competition. Instead, it continued the historic industry consolidation begun by Reagan, whose actions reduced the number of major media companies from around 50 in 1983 to 10 in 1996 and 6 in 2005."

I'd like to hear what his position is on media ownership/regulation. If he doesn't want to bust the media trusts, I can't see what good he is...

[onenote]

10. he didn't play much of a role with respect to the telecom act

He joined the FCC in 1994, first working for the General Counsel's office and then moving to the Chairman's office the next year. I dealt with him in his role as the Chairman's media advisor at that time -- he was not heavily involved in the debate over or the implementation of the telecom act. He became chief counsel to the chairman very late in 1996 -- after much of the initial implementation of the 1996 Act. And he left the FCC six months later, in May 1997.

The announcement of his departure is telling in that it doesn't even mention the 1996 Act: http://www.fcc.gov/ftp/Bureaus/Miscellaneous/News_Releases/1997/nrmc7030.txt

[Dennis Donovan]

11. That's why I love the DU...

:thumbsup: Thanks!