FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell To Resign

Robert McDowell

The Federal Communications Commission’s Robert McDowell announced during the panel’s open meeting Wednesday that he will resign his post in the coming weeks, but did not say what his future plans are.

McDowell, a Republican, has been serving a second term on the commission, having first been appointed in 2006. He was reappointed in 2009.

His resignation was expected, as the Washington Postreported, and many think it will pave the way for the resignation of FCC chairman Julius Genachowski, as McDowell’s resignation leaves Ajit Pai as the only Republican on the commission.

FCC chief counsel also to leave agency:  It was a day of turnover at the FCC, with the agency also announcing Wednesday that chief counsel Sherrese Smith will also be leaving the agency in the coming weeks. He is the last remaining member of chairman Genachowski’s original team of legal advisors.

In an e-mailed statement, Genachowski said that it would be difficult for him to say goodbye to Smith, and credited her with leading the agency’s work on the issues of bill shock, online posting of files and broadcast spectrum issues.

Smith has served as the agency’s general counsel since January 2012. She was once the vice president and general counsel of Washington Post Digital.

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