On January 22, President Obama elevated Commissioner Michael Copps to the position of Acting Chairman of the Commission. Copps, who has been a Commissioner since 2001, will preside over the slimmed-down three-person Commission until a permanent Chairman takes over. Former Commissioner Tate left the agency in December when her term ended, and former Chairman Martin bailed out as of Inauguration Day – leaving Acting Chairman Copps to rule the roost over remaining Commissioners Adelstein (D) and McDowell (R). No word yet on how long it may be before the Commission returns to full five-member strength (or who might be filling at least one of the two empty seats). Repeated media reports have indicated that President Obama intends to nominate Julius Genachowski – an Obama Harvard Law School chum and Chief Counsel to Former FCC Chairman Reed Hundt – to be permanent Chairman, but until the President makes a nomination and that nominee is confirmed by the Senate, Copps is The Man.
