FCC Consumer Bureau Chief Gurin Exiting

Kris Montieth to serve as acting chief

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 2/2/2012 2:18:41 PM

Joel Gurin, chief of the consumer and governmental affairs bureau, is exiting the commission Feb. 17, according to the chairman's office. Kris Montieth, deputy chief of the media bureau, will be acting chief. It will be the third departure this year of a top FCC staffer.

Gurin, who has held the post since December 2009, is the former editor of Consumer Reports. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has framed the FCC's mission as consumer-focused rather than industry-focused and Gurin's charter has included bill shock, getting a handle on broadband speeds, and implementation of the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act, which had a January deadline. "We'll miss Joel's dedication as a stalwart advocate for consumers, working to solve real problems in smart ways," said FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski in a statement.

Gurin is the latest in a number of recent departures that includes FCC Chief of Staff Edward Lazarus, who exited last month, and Paul De Sa, chief of the FCC's office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis, who announced last week he is leaving in this month as well.