President Obama has tapped Meredith Attwell Baker to fill the remaining unfilled position on the Federal Communications Commission.
Baker, a Republican, had been the acting assistant secretary for the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration from 2007 to last January and in that job had overseen the coupon program for DTV converter boxes.
She was previously a lawyer on telecommunications and intellectual property issues, senior counsel for Covad Communications, and before that director of congressional affairs for the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association.
The FCC is about to go through a major change in membership. Julius Genachowski, a personal friend of the president from their Harvard Law School days, is expected shortly to be confirmed by the Senate as new FCC chairman.
The Senate is also due to confirm Republican Robert McDowell to a second FCC term.
Besides Baker, President Obama has also appointed Mignon Clyburn to be a commissioner. Ms. Clyburn, a Democrat, is the daughter of House Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C.
