Copps named acting chairman of FCC
President Barack Obama today named Commissioner Michael Copps as acting chairman of the FCC.
Copps—a Democrat who has been considered one of public safety’s staunchest advocates on the commission—issued a statement that he is “honored” by the designation.
“I pledge every effort I am capable of to help steer the commission through its current transition to new leadership,” Copps said in the statement.
Multiple media outlets have reported that Obama will appoint Julius Genachowski—a former Harvard law-school friend of the president—as FCC chairman, subject to confirmation by the U.S. Senate. 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.
The designation of Copps as FCC chairman fills the void left by the resignation of former FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, which became effective on Tuesday. A spokeswoman told Urgent Communications that Copps is expected to lead the FCC until a new chairman is sworn in after being confirmed by the Senate. The spokeswoman declined to speculate how long that process would take.
