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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:

March 22, 2013
Neil Grace, 202-418-0506
Email: neil.grace@fcc.gov

CHAIRMAN JULIUS GENACHOWSKI ANNOUNCES HE WILL STEP DOWN FROM THE

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION IN COMING WEEKS

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski announced today that he
will be stepping down from his post in the coming weeks. Nominated by President Obama and
confirmed by the Senate in 2009, Genachowski has led the FCC during a time of rapid growth
and transformative change in the Technology, Media & Telecommunications sector, particularly
around broadband – high-speed Internet.
Chairman Genachowski made his announcement in remarks to FCC staff this morning. During
his remarks he said:
“Over the past four years, we’ve focused the FCC on broadband, wired and
wireless, working to drive economic growth and improve the lives of all Americans.
And thanks to you, the Commission’s employees, we’ve taken big steps to build a
future where broadband is ubiquitous and bandwidth is abundant, where
innovation and investment are flourishing.
“To connect all Americans to broadband, we adopted a landmark overhaul of multi-
billion dollar universal service programs, modernizing them from telephone to broadband
and creating the Connect America Fund and the Mobility Fund, an unprecedented
commitment to broadband infrastructure.
“To unleash the enormous opportunities of mobile, we pioneered incentive auctions and
other cutting-edge spectrum policies.
“To fuel America’s innovation economy, we put in place the first rules to preserve
Internet freedom and openness.
“To drive competition and empower consumers, we opposed and modified transactions
where necessary, deployed technology to drive transparency, and took unprecedented
enforcement actions.
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“We helped harness the power of digital technologies to give students a better chance,
people better health care, and make Americans safer in their homes and communities,
while also guarding against digital threats and strengthening cybersecurity.
“Today, America’s broadband economy is thriving, with record-setting private
investment; unparalleled innovation in networks, devices and apps; and renewed
U.S. leadership around the world.
“While there are challenges ahead in this fast-moving, globally competitive sector, a
revitalized FCC is prepared to continue taking them on. I’m deeply grateful to President
Obama for his vision, friendship, and the opportunity to serve our country.
“I’m proud of what we’ve done together to harness technology to advance the American
dream for the 21st century. I know you’ll continue to fight hard to fulfill this agency’s
vital mission, and I look forward to continuing to work together until my last day at the
agency, and to count you as family and as an inspiration for long after that.”
Please find here a document highlighting developments in the broadband economy and FCC
actions over the past four years:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-319728A1.pdf
-FCC-

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