Beltway awaits expected FCC transition

Today, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin’s resignation becomes effective after serving on the commission for eight years. Traditionally, FCC chairmen have departed when replaced as head of the commission, but Martin had left open the possibility that he might stay. During the Consumer Electronics Show early this month, Martin reportedly noted that his term does not expire until 2011 and said, “I don’t have anything to go do yet.” However, in an announcement last week, Martin said he will serve as a senior fellow at the Aspen Institute in Washington, D.C.

Combined with Deborah Taylor Tate’s tenure at the FCC ending earlier this month, Martin’s departure will leave Commissioner Robert McDowell as the lone Republican on the commission.

Although not officially announced yet, President-elect Barack Obama will appoint Julius Genachowski to succeed Martin as FCC chairman, according to multiple media outlets. A law-school friend of Obama, Genachowski was general counsel to FCC Chairman Reed Hundt during the Clinton administration before entering the private sector in a variety of roles, including co-founding startup incubator Launchbox Digital.