FCC nominee Genachowski grilled on Capitol Hill
June 17, 2009
President Obama's nominee to take over as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Julius Genachowski, faced questioning from Senators Wednesday about what he believes the role of the FCC should be in regulating media and communications companies.
Genachowski said he supports the $7 billion broadband stimulus plan, but doesn't support reinstatement of the Fairness Doctrine or censoring political speech, according to the Wall Street Journal. However, he said he would enforce FCC rules on indecency.
Senator Jay Rockefeller, chairman of the Senate commerce committee, told Genachowski that he needed "to fix the agency or we will fix it for you."
"I want an FCC that is transparent, that inspires public confidence and makes our digital infrastructure a model for the world," Rockefeller said.
Industry observers said Wednesday that Genachowski's confirmation is all but assured - he is a former legal counsel of the FCC and was a high-ranking executiveat IAC/InterActiveCorp.
He is also a longtime friend of the president's, having been a student with Obama at both Columbia and Harvard Law School. He was the chief technology adviser to Obama's presidential campaign.
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