Genachowski Hears It From Admirers

Exiting chairman's accomplishments cited by industry, others

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 3/22/2013 11:14:08 AM

Tributes to departing FCC chair Julius Genachowski were stacked up like planes over LaGuardia in journalist inboxes Friday morning, even as the chairman was announcing his departure "in the coming weeks" -- he did not say how many -- to staffers at a hug-filled almost goodbye in the FCC's meeting room.

"Julius solidified America's leadership in broadband deployment," said William Kennard, U.S. Ambassador to the European Union and former FCC chairman himself. "The U.S. is the undisputed world leader in deploying large scale 4G networks, smartphones and mobile apps.  This would not have happened without the policy environment that he created." Setting much of the agenda for that environment was the chairman's the National Broadband Plan, which included reforms to the Universal Service Fund to migrate it from traditional phone service, and the incentive auctions that are meant to free up spectrum for mobile broadband.

Fellow commissioner Robert McDowell called his exit the end of "close a historic era of thoughtful and energetic policymaking. Although occasionally we disagreed, sometimes profoundly, he leaves office with my utmost respect. He proved that through hard work, persistence and creativity, bipartisanship and compromise in policymaking can occur in Washington, even in these days of sharp divisions and gridlock." McDowell earlier this week announced his own exit from the commission, giving the same "coming weeks" answer.

He added that Genachowski had been "an eloquent and effective advocate for repurposing valuable spectrum to meet the needs and demands of American consumers. The results may not come to fruition for years, but many of his efforts in the wireless sector will help spur investment, innovation and economic growth."

"Chairman Genachowski has been a brilliant chair of the Federal Communications Commission," said ranking Energy & Commerce Committee member Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.). "He has transformed and energized the agency. Under his leadership, the FCC protected consumer access to the free and open Internet, preserved and expanded wireless competition, and reformed the broken universal service and intercarrier compensation system."

"We commend Chairman Genachowski for his extraordinary work over the last four years on behalf of the country," said Comcast executive VP David Cohen. "His long list of accomplishments have a common theme: bringing the highest caliber of communications technologies to all Americans and to ensure the US remains the leader in the global marketplace. Under his leadership, the Commission adopted a National Broadband Plan, the Connect America Fund and the Incentive Auction opportunity to help drive innovation, investment and job creation." His FCC also allowed Comcast to merge with NBCU.

"As I named him at the 2013 International CES, Chairman Genachowski is the ‘Spectrum Chairman,'" CEA President Gary Shapiro said. "Consumers and industry alike will benefit for years to come thanks to Genachowski's service at the FCC."

"I want to express my sincere thanks and appreciation for Chairman Genachowski's leadership at the FCC," said CTIA president Steve Largent. "Julius was instrumental in overseeing the National Broadband Plan and has been a strong voice on spectrum issues and acceleration of broadband infrastructure deployment so that consumers may continue to enjoy the benefits of the wireless ecosystem. Julius recognized early on the benefits of mobile broadband and made it a priority to deliver additional, cleared spectrum to meet consumer demand and maintain U.S. global leadership."

"With the blueprint of the National Broadband Plan as a guidepost, Mr. Genachowski pursued goals that will move the dial on further deployment of broadband in years to come," said USTelecom president Walter McCormick. "He is to be commended for the extraordinary feat of executing fundamental reforms to the nation's universal service program, a thicket of complex regulation dating back to monopoly-era regulation which is now positioned for a broadband age."

"Chairman Genachowski brought a renewed focus to the FCC on both wireline and wireless broadband from virtually his first day in office," said AT&T senior EVP Jim Cicconi. "He oversaw the drafting and publishing of our nation's first National Broadband Plan and he identified the spectrum crisis that led to provisions in the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 that will not only make much needed broadband spectrum available for auction but also will hopefully result in the construction of a nationwide, interoperable network for public safety.  If that weren't enough, Chairman Genachowski also issued a unanimous order adopting the first comprehensive reform of universal service and intercarrier compensation..."

"Chairman Genachowski's leadership at the FCC has been marked by his commitment to encourage expansion and adoption of broadband -- both wireless and wireline -- as a transformative technology that is critical to our nation's global competitiveness, our economy and our standing as global leader in wireless innovation," said Verizon senior VP Craig Silliman. "We commend him for modernizing outdated policies, including reforms to the antiquated intercarrier compensation system and the Universal Service Fund."