Since being sworn in as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission in June 2009, Julius Genachowski has focused the agency on digital communications, particularly wired and wireless broadband -- pursuing policies to promote investment, unleash innovation, and empower consumers. Under his leadership, the FCC developed and is implementing the National Broadband Plan, an ambitious strategy to harness the opportunities of high-speed Internet, and promote U.S. global competitiveness.

Prior to his FCC appointment, Genachowski spent more than a decade working in the technology and media industries as an executive, investor, and board member. He was Chief of Business Operations and, before that, General Counsel at IAC/InterActiveCorp; Special Advisor at the private equity firm General Atlantic; and co-founded the technology incubator LaunchBox Digital.

Genachowski's confirmation returned him to the agency where, in the 1990s, he served as Chief Counsel to Chairman Reed Hundt, as well as Special Counsel to General Counsel William Kennard (later FCC Chairman.) He has served as a U.S. Supreme Court law clerk for two years, for Justice David Souter and Justice William J. Brennan, Jr. (Ret.), and as a clerk for Chief Judge Abner Mikva of the D.C. Circuit. Genachowski worked in Congress on the staff of the House select committee investigating the Iran-Contra affair, and for then-U.S. Representative (now Senator) Charles E. Schumer.

Genachowski received a J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1991 (magna cum laude), and served as co-Notes Editor of the Harvard Law Review. In 1985, he received a B.A. from Columbia College (magna cum laude), where he was Editor of Columbia Spectator's Broadway Magazine, re-established Columbia's oldest newspaper (Acta Columbiana), and was a writer and researcher for Fred Friendly, former President of CBS News. He was also a certified Emergency Medical Technician, served on the Columbia Area Volunteer Ambulance, and taught cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

President Obama nominated Chairman Genachowski in March 2009, and he was confirmed by the Senate on June 29, 2009. He was appointed to the Council of the Administrative Conference of the United States. He was named by President Obama to lead the United States delegation to Poland for the commemoration of the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

A son of immigrants, Genachowski is married to Rachel Goslins and has three children.

Show full bio

Hide full bio