Christopher Yoo Says He Has Asked Not to Be Considered for FCC Post

Academic, author and network neutrality rule skeptic Christopher Yoo said that he is not a candidate for the FCC Republican seat being vacated by Robert McDowell, at least not now.

Sources had said that Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who is vetting candidates for the post, was looking at academics, and one source said Yoo's name had surfaced as one of those. Yoo confirmed there had been interest. Yoo indicated he was flattered but not interested, at least not for the moment. "Others have suggested my name," he wrote. "[W]hile I am flattered, I have asked McConnell's staff not to consider me for a position as FCC Commissioner at this time." Among the names still said to be in the hunt for the seat are Michael O'Reilly, a top staffer with Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), and Ray Baum, a former Oregon Public Utility Commission chairman and current top adviser to House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR).