Staff Changes at FCC

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Julius Genachowski announced key senior staff at the agency, including: Wireline Competition Bureau Deputy Chiefs Catherine Seidel and John Branscome, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Deputy Chief Monica Shah Desai, and Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau Deputy Chief Mark Stone.

1) Seidel has been at the FCC for more than 15 years. Most recently, Ms. Seidel served as Chief of the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, a position she held since January 2007. Previously, she was the Acting Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB), and also has served as a Deputy Bureau Chief and Chief of Staff for the WTB.

2) Branscome has been at the FCC for nine years. He most recently served as Chief of the Spectrum and Competition Policy Division, and for the past year, Mr. Branscome was detailed to U.S. Senator Amy J. Klobuchar as counsel for communications and intellectual property matters. He also has served as acting legal advisor both to Commissioner Michael J. Copps and to former Commissioner Kathleen Q. Abernathy.

3) Desai has worked at the FCC since 1999 in a variety of capacities. She previously served as Chief of the Media Bureau from January 2007 until June 2009, and as Chief of the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau from April 2005 until January 2007. She most recently served as a special advisor to the General Counsel, and previously served as a legal advisor to then Commissioner Martin on spectrum and international issues.

4) Stone has held a variety of positions at the Commission since 1994. He recently served as Deputy Managing Director. Prior to that, he advised former Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein on wireline telephone matters and was an adviser to former Chairman Kevin Martin. Mr. Stone has also served as Deputy Chief of the Telecommunications Consumers Division of the Enforcement Bureau where he supervised investigations and actions to enforce the Commission's rules that protect people with disabilities and low income telephone subscribers.