Zachary Katz, chief counsel to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, has been named chief of staff, succeeding Eddie Lazarus.  Sherrese Smith, currently senior counsel and legal advisor for media issues, will succeed Katz as chief counsel.

That was the lead on a number of changes to the chairman’s staff announced Thursday.

“As I know from working closely with Zac on many important initiatives,” said the chairman, “he has exceptionally good judgment, tremendous aptitude, and the strong leadership qualities to serve as Chief of Staff. The agency is fortunate to have an extraordinarily accomplished senior team to lead an ambitious policy agenda as we start the new year. Building on the successes of the past few years, this team will be focused on unleashing the benefits of broadband, driving economic growth, and opportunity for all Americans.”

Before being named chief counsel, Katz had been deputy chief of the FCC’s Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis. He joined the FCC from the White House Counsel’s Office.

He is said to have been instrumental in helping produce the FCC’s open Internet rules and USF reform proposals.

Rick Kaplan, who was said to have been a candidate for the post, elected to remain atop the FCC’s Wireless Bureau, which is currently a hot spot given the FCC’s, and Obama administration, focus on wireless broadband.

Lazarus announced his exit Dec. 14. He had been the chief policy gatekeeper — that chief policy being broadband deployment and adoption — and top adviser to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski since June 2009. Before that, he was an attorney with Akin Gump in L.A.

The chairman seemed to signal with the series of announcements about increased responsibilities for his staffers that he would be spreading those responsibilities around a bit.

He also announced Thursday that Josh Gottheimer, senior counsel, will spearhead a new FCC team focusing on public-private initiatives like the Connect to Compete broadband adoption program and others associated with the national broadband plan’s focus on jobs, health care, energy, education and public safety applications of broadband.

Amy Levine, special counsel and legal advisor, will become senior counsel, continuing to focus on wireless, public safety and homeland security issues, while Michael Steffen will join the chairman’s office as legal adviser, focusing on wireline, international and internet issues, including the ongoing Universal Service Fund reform and open Internet issues. He has been special counsel in the office of general counsel.

“This is a splendid choice,” said Media Access Project’s Andrew Schwartzman. “Zac is a smart and steady presence in the Chariman’s office. Since he is close to the Chairman and has been working in the Chairman’s office, MAP looks forward to a seamless transition.”

“”We congratulate Zach Katz on his appointment as chief of staff to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski,” said Public Knowledge legal director Harold Feld. “Zach is a diligent and dedicated defender of the public interest, and we look forward to working with him on a variety of challenging issues. We also congratulate Sherrese Smith, Josh Gottheimer, Amy Levine and Michael Steffen on their new roles and duties.”

For Immediate Release

Contact: Andrew Jay Schwartzman
202.454.5681
andys@mediaaccess.org

For Immediate Release

For Immediate Release

Contact: Andrew Jay Schwartzman
202.454.5681
andys@mediaaccess.org

VERIZON “PUBLIC INTEREST STATEMENT” DOES NOT ALLAY CONCERNS ABOUT SPECTRUM DEAL WITH CABLE COMPANIES

Verizon has submitted an application seeking FCC approval of spectrum it seeks to purchase from a consortium of the largest cable television companies. Although the transaction also involves elaborate joint marketing agreements, Verizon argues to the FCC that those aspects of the deal are not relevant to the FCC’s consideration of the matter. Media Access Project Senior Vice President and Policy Director of Media Access Project today issued the following statement in response:

No matter how forcefully Verizion claims that this is “a spectrum only transaction,” it is much more than that. The FCC’s mandate is to look at the totality of the circumstances to decide if a proposed transfer is in the public interest. This one raises serious questions about the state of competition in both the wireless and video markets.

Media Access Project is a nonprofit, public interest law firm working to protect free expression, innovation, and economic growth by promoting low cost, universal access to media outlets and communications services.

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For Immediate Release

For Immediate Release

Media Access Project is a nonprofit, public interest law firm working to protect free expression, innovation, and economic growth by promoting low cost, universal access to media outlets and communications services.

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For Immediate Release

For Immediate Release

MAP and PK Urge FCC To Protect Independent Cable Programmers

Washington D.C- Media Access Project (MAP) and Public Knowledge (PK) today filed joint comments urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to adopt greatly strengthened “program carriage” rules to assure that cable operators cannot discriminate against independently owned cable channels in providing access to their cable systems.

Although the 1992 Cable Act contains provisions designed to protect independent cable channels from being denied carriage by imposing unreasonable charges or unfair channel placement, Even though the FCC adopted several important reforms to the rules this summer, MAP and PK explain that existing complaint procedures still make it too expensive and too time-consuming for independent channels to seek redress from the FCC. They recommend that the FCC adopt presumptions similar to those used for cable “program access” complaints, so that complainants have a fair opportunity to pursue their case. MAP and PK also ask that the Commission adopt a number of procedural reforms to insure that the complaint process move more quickly, including “shot clock” deadlines for final action and standardized discovery procedures. The groups strongly support a system of “baseball style” arbitration, under which each sides last best offer is considered by the FCC decision maker. Finally, they ask for explicit prohibitions against discrimination in favor of cable channels owned by other cable companies.

“Independent programmers have yet to receive the full benefit of Congressional efforts to promote their access to broader audiences,” said Jodie Griffen of Public Knowledge, one of the attorneys who prepared the comments.

“These changes can greatly improve the diversity of cable program offerings, which will be especially important to niche audiences, such as racial and ethnic minorities and other often underserved segments of the audience,” said Chrystiane Pereira, who was Media Access Project’s lead attorney on the project.

Media Access Project is a nonprofit, public interest law firm working to protect free expression, innovation, and economic growth by promoting low cost, universal access to media outlets and communications services.

PDF of full comments here

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For Immediate Release