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Change Sweeping to the FCC
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Indeed, the transition staff has been guided by executives at Silicon Valley giants like Google. Google's chief executive, Eric Schmidt, became an adviser on technology, along with the Silicon Valley search company's chief Internet evangelist, Vint Cerf.
That has some worried that companies like Google might have too much influence in the new administration's tech agenda.
Hundt said that rapid changes in technology have long affected communications policy and that Genachowski would synthesize those themes with a Wall Street sensibility.
"That's what the next 10 years is going to be about -- the integration and convergence of technology and media," said Ted Leonsis, a former AOL executive.
As the lead writer of Obama's technology plan, Genachowski is expected to focus on a concept called net neutrality, which would prevent carriers from blocking or slowing Internet traffic.
"Your job as the FCC chair is to play a shaping role with respect to market structures of the future," Hundt said. "Julius is more equipped than anyone for the job in the FCC's 70-year history to actually understand fundamental dynamics of the market."
Genachowski will have to tread carefully. He will enter the role of FCC chairman in a historic economic meltdown that has raised concerns over the survival of smaller competitors and has helped shut down numerous print and broadcast media outlets.
Obama has made the expansion of high-speed Internet, or broadband, to rural and underserved areas as a key component of a larger job-creation strategy.
"He's going to have to recognize that those companies, the carriers, play a role in future development," said Richard Wiley, a former Republican chairman of the FCC and head of Wiley Rein law firm. "With some industries hurting a great deal, don't know if [Genachowski] will want to have tough policies that may be counterproductive or favor one agenda or industry. I'd be surprised if he did that. He's too smart to do that."
Diller sits on the board of The Washington Post Co., and last year the company sponsored a mobile technology competition with LaunchBox for $50,000. The former chief executive of Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive, Caroline Little, has served as an adviser to LaunchBox.
