FCC chairman Julius Genachowski steps down

The Federal Communication Commission now has two vacant seats to fill as its chairman is set to resign.

According to The Los Angeles Times, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski is stepping down from his position and is the second vacancy in the agency in the past couple weeks. The FCC oversees cable, television and broadband companies.

The 50-year-old Genachowski, a Democrat, is supposed to announce his move on Friday. The other spot which is needed to be filled is of Republican Robert McDowell. He made his notice Thursday that he will be stepping down in the next couple weeks.

The resignations of both Genachowski and McDowell are to no surprise since President Obama was re-elected into office, reports The New York Times. With both men stepping down that leaves the five member board 2-1 with a Democratic majority.

The three board members left are Democrats Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel. The lone Republican representative is Ajit Pai.

Genachowski leaves a lot of his goals unfinished. One of his biggest goals was to make airwaves available to mobile companies to use in wireless broadband services for the Internet. The problem with that is to get the cable broadcasters to give up a portion of their airwaves for a trade in profits.

“Over the past four years, we’ve focused the F.C.C. on broadband, wired and wireless, working to drive economic growth and improve the lives of all Americans,” Genachowski said.

The FCC recently allowed T-Mobile to connect with MetroPCS, the nation’s fifth- largest carrier. Up next could be Softbank’s bid of $20 million for Sprint which looks to be complete in May.

“Today, America’s broadband economy is thriving, with record-setting private investment,” Genachowski said, “unparalleled innovation in networks, devices and apps; and renewed U.S. leadership around the world.”