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NEWS
Federal Communications Commission

News Media Information 202 / 418-0500

445 12th Street, S.W.

Internet: http://www.fcc.gov

Washington, D. C. 20554

TTY: 1-888-835-5322

This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.
See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:

April 30, 2012
Neil Grace, 202-418-0506
Email: neil.grace@fcc.gov

FCC CHAIRMAN JULIUS GENACHOWSKI NAMES RENEE WENTZEL LEGAL ADVISOR

AND CHARLES MATHIAS SPECIAL COUNSEL

Washington, D.C. – Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Julius Genachowski today
named

Renee Wentzel

Legal Advisor to the Chairman and

Charles Mathias

Special Counsel to the
Chairman.
In her role, Ms. Wentzel will have particular responsibility for wireless and engineering and technology
issues, including removing barriers to mobile broadband deployment and unlicensed spectrum policy.
She will begin May 7.
Mr. Mathias, currently Acting Legal Advisor, will have responsibility for public safety and homeland
security issues, as well as for certain spectrum policy issues. He will also lead a team on government
reform to develop and implement procedural and regulatory reforms to further innovation in government,
extending the work previously led by Ruth Milkman, who will continue to serve as Special Counsel to the
Chairman and Co-Lead of the Incentive Auction Task Force.

Chairman Genachowski said

, “Renee is a strong addition to our team as we advance our vital agenda of
unleashing the benefits of mobile broadband. Her expertise and experience will help us drive economic
growth and opportunity on behalf of all Americans.”

He added

, “I am delighted that Charles is assuming new and important responsibilities. The Commission
is fortunate to have his deep expertise on public safety and spectrum issues and to help further our
innovation in government and agency reform agenda.”

Staff Bios:

Renee Wentzel

comes to the Commission from the law firm of Wiltshire & Grannis LLP, where she
practiced telecommunications law. She engaged in advocacy, transactional, compliance, and enforcement
proceedings at the FCC and has experience in wireless, wireline, international, consumer, and
governmental affairs matters. She has a particular interest in issues related to wireless and spectrum
policy.
Prior to becoming an attorney, Ms. Wentzel advised government contractors regarding their federal
government business strategies as a public affairs advisor at Holland & Knight LLP. Ms. Wentzel was
also the legislative affairs manager for a national trade association representing the federal services
contracting industry. Ms. Wentzel received her J.D., cum laude, from the Georgetown University Law
Center, and her B.A., cum laude, with distinction in history, from Yale University.

Charles Mathias

, currently Acting Legal Advisor, previously served as Associate Bureau Chief in the
Commission’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. He led various Bureau initiatives in the areas of

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spectrum management, technology, and innovation and was a member of the team that reviewed the
AT&T-T-Mobile transaction. Previously, he was Senior Legal Advisor to former FCC Commissioner
Meredith Attwell Baker, where, in addition to managing the day-to-day operations of the Commissioner’s
office, he was responsible for wireless, international, satellite, and public safety issues.
Prior to joining the FCC, he held senior positions at Lucent Technologies where he managed both the
Washington and EMEA regulatory affairs offices, and at Bechtel. Previously, in private practice, he
counseled companies and individuals in the information and communications technologies sector. He
began his career as a corporate lawyer at Ropes & Gray LLP in Boston. Mr. Mathias graduated from
Harvard College and received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law.
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