Rick Kaplan tapped as FCC Chairman

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Kaplan will also be Senior Legal Advisor to FCC head Julius Genachowski, replacing the departing Bruce Gottlieb. Genachowski did not have to look far to find Kaplan – in fact, he didn’t even have to leave the 8th Floor of FCC headquarters in Washington DC.


Kaplan is currently Chief of Staff for Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, a position he has held since Clyburn came to the FCC in August of 2009. Gottlieb officially exits at the end of July.

“Rick brings a wealth of experience and achievement to the Commission — as an attorney, public servant, and successful entrepreneur,” said Genachowski. “He has a keen intellect, great judgment, deep insight into the challenges and opportunities of the modern communications landscape, and the ability to build consensus among a wide variety of stakeholders.  I am delighted that he has agreed to join my senior leadership team.”

According to the FCC, Kaplan has stints at law firm Sidley Austin LLP, the Office of the General Counsel at the U.S. House of Representatives and as a law clerk for Judge Harry T. Edwards of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. He also owned and operated a sports communications and management agency in New York.

Clyburn has already tapped Angie Kronenberg to take Kaplan’s’ place. She moves up from her present position as Wireline Legal Advisor to the Commissioner.