Adviser apparent choice for FCC

January 14, 2009

WASHINGTON - President-elect Barack Obama plans to nominate one of his key technology advisers to be the next chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, according to a Democratic official and a person who has worked with the transition team on tech issues.

Julius Genachowski, a friend of Obama's from their days at Harvard Law School and a top fund-raiser for his presidential campaign, would bring a corporate technology background and inside-the-Beltway experience to the FCC.

From 1997 to 2005, he held several executive positions at Barry Diller's Internet conglomerate IAC/InterActive Corp., including chief of business operations and general counsel. Previously he spent three years in the FCC in the Clinton administration, including as chief counsel to the chairman. From 1991 to 1994, he was a law clerk for Supreme Court Justices David Souter and William Brennan.

Former FCC chairman Reed Hundt, who was Genachowski's boss at the agency and is working on trade and economics issues for the Obama transition team, praised Genachowski's background.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON - US Senate appointee Roland Burris will be sworn into office tomorrow, his office said, closing a painful and protracted certification process ensnared in the federal investigation of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.

Senate Democrats have reversed course, grudgingly accepting the former Illinois attorney general into their exclusive club as the person who will replace President-elect Barack Obama.

"I really never doubted that I would be seated," Burris said in a nationally broadcast TV interview yesterday. "It was just a matter of going through the process and making sure that the Senate rules were abided by."

Burris reiterated that he had made no deal with Senate majority leader Harry Reid to not run for a full Senate term in 2010 in exchange for being allowed to take his seat in the chamber now.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

The artist who created the by-now ubiquitous multihued "Hope" poster for Barack Obama's presidential campaign has come up with one for the inauguration.

"Be the Change," says the commemorative poster by Los Angeles artist Shepard Fairey, unveiled yesterday.

It's available for a $20 donation to Obama's inaugural committee; $35 gets you two copies, and there's also a limited-edition print for $100 and signed copies for $500.

GLOBE STAFF

WASHINGTON - The White House family quarters will be getting a makeover from an interior designer to the stars.

Los Angeles-based designer Michael Smith has been chosen by Michelle Obama to decorate the private quarters of the executive mansion, transition officials said yesterday. "Michael shares my vision for creating a family-friendly feel to our new home," Obama said in a statement.

ASSOCIATED PRESS