Genachowski, Colleagues Outline FCC Reform Agenda for Congress

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski has "tried to hit the ground running" on a reform agenda since taking office last summer, he told members of a House Commerce Subcommittee on Thursday. During the first FCC oversight hearing of the 111th Congress, Chairman Genachowski was joined by all four of his colleagues as the full commission appeared before the Communications, Technology and Internet Subcommittee for the first time. Many members of the subcommittee devoted significant time to praising the commission's efforts for a national broadband strategy, which is scheduled to be delivered to Congress by February 2010. But the new chairman and colleagues are looking beyond the broadband plan towards ways to improving the operations of the FCC, they said. While Genachowski's tenure is only a few months old, he said he has already begun to articulate specific strategic priorities for the commission. These include "fostering investment and innovation, promoting competition, and protecting and empowering consumers, children, and families." The commission has already begun work on these goals, he said.