Chmn. Genachowski Expected This PM
Adelstein Departure
Acting Chairman Copps sent the following message to FCC staff today on the transition:
Adelstein Departure
Acting Chairman Copps sent the following message to FCC staff today on the transition:
"Today a new Commission begins to take shape with the arrival this afternoon of our new Chairman, Julius Genachowski. I know everyone joins me in giving Julius a warm FCC welcome and in wishing him all the best as he begins what promises to be a very distinguished chairmanship. He knows the FCC well, having worked here previously, and he brings impressive experience and innovative thinking with him. I am looking forward to working with Julius.
Today also marks the final day as Commissioner for my friend and colleague Jonathan Adelstein. Jonathan has been a tremendous colleague to work with over the past seven-plus years. Experienced, smart, personable and truly dedicated to the public interest, he has served the country, and the Commission, exceedingly well. I join you in wishing him all good things as he moves ahead in the confirmation process toward becoming Administrator of the RUS.
Also we look forward to the imminent swearing-in of Rob McDowell for a full term. Rob goes in one day from being the junior to the second most-senior among Commissioners. Based on the record he has compiled here and on the thorough and collegial way he works, I know Rob will be a critically-important part of the new Commission's success.
I mentioned at the outset a "new" FCC--but that's not really how it is. There's an ongoing FCC, peopled with the most talented public servants this town has to offer, and their work--your work--day-in, day-out, is what gives this place continuity, character and class. I have been so incredibly privileged the past five months to be your Acting Chairman. It's an experience I will always remember, and what I will remember most is being surrounded by so many talented and dedicated folks who really want to--and do--make a difference in people's lives.
We've had some extraordinary challenges during these five short months. Coping with the many unmet challenges of the DTV transition occupied much of our time as we fielded a team and a program to accomplish in a few months time things that should have been top-priority for a few years. It was really an exercise in going grassroots as hundreds of you took up the cause and made an incredible difference in helping people prepare for the big switch to digital. The effort isn't over yet, but we can all take pride in your Herculean and successful efforts to smooth out what would otherwise have been a horrendously bumpy road for millions of consumers. While DTV occupied much of our time over these months, so did launching the broadband initiative mandated by Congress and the President. Developing a broadband plan for the nation between now and next February is one of the greatest challenges--and opportunities--ever to come the Commission's way. There were so many other items and issues being dealt with over these five months that I wouldn't try to list them all, but they, too, were of huge importance to many, many Americans.
It is the ongoing daily work of the Commission--which doesn't often capture the headlines-- that is, in the final analysis, what gives us credibility and what gets our mission accomplished. This place is filled to the rafters with unsung heroes. And one thing that I really tried to encourage over these past five months was to create an environment wherein each member of our FCC family can communicate and work and create to the fullest extent possible.
So to each of you, I want to say "Thank you." Thank you for your dedication to serving the American people. Thank you for your commitment to doing your job as well as that job can possibly be done. And thank you for going out of your way to help me along the way--over these past five months especially, but over the course of the eight years that I have been privileged to work here.
Don't read this as "Farewell" however, because I plan to stick around and continue fighting for the causes I believe it. I just wanted to take this special moment to say a heartfelt thank you for being there for the American people. "
Today also marks the final day as Commissioner for my friend and colleague Jonathan Adelstein. Jonathan has been a tremendous colleague to work with over the past seven-plus years. Experienced, smart, personable and truly dedicated to the public interest, he has served the country, and the Commission, exceedingly well. I join you in wishing him all good things as he moves ahead in the confirmation process toward becoming Administrator of the RUS.
Also we look forward to the imminent swearing-in of Rob McDowell for a full term. Rob goes in one day from being the junior to the second most-senior among Commissioners. Based on the record he has compiled here and on the thorough and collegial way he works, I know Rob will be a critically-important part of the new Commission's success.
I mentioned at the outset a "new" FCC--but that's not really how it is. There's an ongoing FCC, peopled with the most talented public servants this town has to offer, and their work--your work--day-in, day-out, is what gives this place continuity, character and class. I have been so incredibly privileged the past five months to be your Acting Chairman. It's an experience I will always remember, and what I will remember most is being surrounded by so many talented and dedicated folks who really want to--and do--make a difference in people's lives.
We've had some extraordinary challenges during these five short months. Coping with the many unmet challenges of the DTV transition occupied much of our time as we fielded a team and a program to accomplish in a few months time things that should have been top-priority for a few years. It was really an exercise in going grassroots as hundreds of you took up the cause and made an incredible difference in helping people prepare for the big switch to digital. The effort isn't over yet, but we can all take pride in your Herculean and successful efforts to smooth out what would otherwise have been a horrendously bumpy road for millions of consumers. While DTV occupied much of our time over these months, so did launching the broadband initiative mandated by Congress and the President. Developing a broadband plan for the nation between now and next February is one of the greatest challenges--and opportunities--ever to come the Commission's way. There were so many other items and issues being dealt with over these five months that I wouldn't try to list them all, but they, too, were of huge importance to many, many Americans.
It is the ongoing daily work of the Commission--which doesn't often capture the headlines-- that is, in the final analysis, what gives us credibility and what gets our mission accomplished. This place is filled to the rafters with unsung heroes. And one thing that I really tried to encourage over these past five months was to create an environment wherein each member of our FCC family can communicate and work and create to the fullest extent possible.
So to each of you, I want to say "Thank you." Thank you for your dedication to serving the American people. Thank you for your commitment to doing your job as well as that job can possibly be done. And thank you for going out of your way to help me along the way--over these past five months especially, but over the course of the eight years that I have been privileged to work here.
Don't read this as "Farewell" however, because I plan to stick around and continue fighting for the causes I believe it. I just wanted to take this special moment to say a heartfelt thank you for being there for the American people. "
UPDATE - At 4:15 PM Chmn. Genachowski arrived in building and sent FCC staff a message saying, among other things, that he looks forward to "doing a lot of listening and learning" in the "coming days and weeks". He will address the staff tomorrow afternoon.
Public Notice announcing Chairman's Office staff.
6/30 Address to FCC Staff
Excerpt:
Public Notice announcing Chairman's Office staff.
6/30 Address to FCC Staff
Excerpt:
"(C)ommunications technology has the power to transform lives for the better.
That’s never been more true than today. Communications must play a role in solving many of our nation’s most pressing challenges. It’s the FCC’s job –our job –to turn this aspiration into reality. We will be judged by whether we find concrete, practical ways to improve the lives of all of our nation’s people."
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1 comment:
Michael -- the headlines of your posts never show up in your RSS feed. I am not sure if you can fix this. Might help your audience. Thanks!
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