FCC Chair Resigns, Obama Selection Ready

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair Kevin Martin has resigned his position, in anticipation of the appointment of a new chair by president-elect Barack Obama. Sources have said that Obama will appoint former Harvard University classmate, lawyer and former FCC general counsel Julius Genachowski, a Democrat. He is currently the head of two venture capital firms. Martin, who is a Republican, said he is leaving to become a fellow at the Aspen Institute, the same position held by former chairs Reed Hundt, William Kennard and Michael Powell. Martin joined the FCC as commissioner in July 2001 and President Bush named him chair in March 2005 after the departure of Michael Powell. Martin was formerly President George W. Bush’s special assistant for economic policy and was a former assistant to an FCC commissioner.