Julius Genachowski
Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (since June 2009)
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A longtime Obama friend and a top 2008 campaign fundraiser, Genachowski is the president's pick for chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
The FCC has grown in power as the agency has bolstered regulation of the rapidly-growing Internet and wireless communications sectors. And with broadband and Internet expansion included as part of the February 2009 $800 billion economic stimulus package, the FCC's role in affecting the economy has grown even larger.
- Career History: Managing Director at Rock Creek Ventures (2005 to present); IAC/Interactive (1997 to 2008); General counsel to the FCC Chairman (1994 to 1997); Law clerck to U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter (1993 to 1994)
- Birthday: Aug. 19, 1962
- Alma Mater: Columbia University, B.A.; Harvard University, J.D.
Born in 1962 to Eastern European Jews who fled the Holocaust to come to the U.S., Genachowski and Obama share a similar background. They both went to Columbia University as undergraduates and were classmates at Harvard Law School.
While Genachowski was at Columbia he came up with the idea to re-launch the school newspaper, Acta Columbiana, after a 100-year interruption. It competed with The Columbia Daily Spectator, but is no longer in circulation. He also worked with Obama on the Harvard Law Review, taking breaks to play basketball with the future president.
In January 2009, Genachowski's name was floated as the likely FCC chairman, but he wasn't nominated until March 2009. Although he has experience in the telecommunications and technology sectors, Genachowski has been described as more of an executive and dealmaker than a nuts-and-bolts tech guy.
Genachowski developed the 2008 Obama presidential campaign's tech and innovation plan and spoke out on network neutrality. He also pushed for Obama's 2008 campaign to create social-networking tools on the Internet so voters could rally for Obama's causes, an element of the campaign that was inventive and successful.
Genachowski has worked for various political and legal players.
Out of undergraduate, he worked as an aide to then-Rep. Charles E.Schumer (D-N.Y.). He's clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter and former U.S. Supreme Court Justice William Brennan Jr. During the Clinton administration, Genachowski served under two FCC heads: Reed Hundt and William Kennard.
- The New York Times topics, Julius Genachowski
- Kang, Cecilia, The Washington Post, PostTech, FCC chair announces net neutrality push without re-asserting role over broadband Internet, Dec, 1, 2010
- Hart, Kim, "Contractors Bidding Davis a Fond Farewell," The Washington Post, Nov. 10, 2008
- Kang, Cecilia, The Washington Post, Post Tech, Dec. 21, 2010
- WhiteHouseforSale.org
- Center for Responsive Politics
- Dixon, Kim, "Obama's FCC choice praised, seen easily confirmed," Reuters News, Jan. 13, 2009
- Genachowski statement before casting his vote in favor of net neutrality rules, Dec. 21, 2010
- Anderson, Susan Heller and Dunlap, David W., "NEW YORK DAY BY DAY; New Paper on Campus," The New York Times, May 1, 1985
- The National Broadband Initiative, accessed Nov. 18, 2010
- Kanto, Jodi, "Julius Genachowski," The New York Times, Nov. 12, 2008
- Labaton, Stephen, "Obama to Select Genachowski to Lead F.C.C.," The New York Times, Jan. 13, 2008
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