Genachowski nominated to lead FCC

President Barack Obama is tapping Julius Genachowski to run the Federal Communications Commission, the White House announced today.

"I can think of no one better than Julius Genachowski to serve as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission," the president said in a statement. "He will bring to the job diverse and unparalleled experience in communications and technology, with two decades of accomplishment in the private sector and public service. I know him as the son of immigrants who carries a deep appreciation for this country and the American dream; and as the proud father of three children working with his wife Rachel to be responsible parents in this digital age."

The White House touted the nominee's business experience in its announcement:

He was also a classmate of the president's at Harvard Law School, and according the the New York Times, played a games of basketball with Obama.

Genachowki's probable nomination has been talked about for several weeks. David Axelrod, the president's senior adviser, let the name slip when answering a question about the Fairness Doctrine during an interview on Fox News Sunday in February.

"I'm going to leave that to Julius Genachowski, our new head of the FCC, to--and the president to discuss. So I don't have an answer for you now," Axelrod said.

UPDATE: Consumers Union, the publisher of Consumer Reports, weighed in on the nomination.

Joel Kelsey, a CU telecommunications policy analyst, said,"We’re encouraged by this choice for FCC chairman, someone who understands the communications and media industries well, and someone who gets how important an open Internet is to economic growth."