November 1, 2011

President Nominates a Republican and a Democrat to FCC

President Obama nominated two new commissioners for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to replace the departed Meredith Attwell Baker and Michael Copps, who will depart this year. The nominees are both lawyers with FCC experience: Jessica Rosenworcel, a democrat and Ajit Pai, a Republican.

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said, "In nominating Jessica Rosenworcel and Ajit Pai as FCC commissioners, President Obama made two outstanding choices for the Commission and for the American people. Given their talent, leadership and 
expertise in our space, they would both play an invaluable role at the FCC."

American Cable Association President and CEO Matthew Polka, said, “ACA is pleased President Obama will nominate Jessica Rosenworcel and Ajit Pai to serve at the FCC. Both are talented individuals with a deep understanding of the digital economy and the vital role played by small and mid-sized cable operators in providing world-class communications services to hometown America."

Ajit Varadaraj Pai is a partner in the litigation department of Jenner & Block LLP. Prior to Jenner & Block, Pai worked in the Office of the General Counsel at the FCC, where he served as deputy general counsel, associate general counsel, and special advisor to the general counsel.  Previously, he served as chief counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Property Rights and as senior counsel at the Office of Legal Policy at the U.S. Department of Justice.  Pai also served as deputy chief counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the Courts and as associate general counsel at Verizon Communications.

Jessica Rosenworcel is the senior communications counsel for the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, working for Senator Jay Rockefeller IV since 2009, and previously for Senator Daniel Inouye from 2007 to 2008. Before joining the Committee, she worked at the FCC from 1999 to 2007, serving as legal advisor and then senior legal advisor to Commissioner Michael Copps (2003-2007), legal counsel to the Bureau Chief of the Wireline Competition Bureau (2002-2003), and as an attorney-advisor in the Policy Division of the Common Carrier Bureau (1999-2002).