Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski announced today Ruth Milkman will step down as chief of the agency’s wireless telecommunications bureau to serve as Genachowski’s special counsel for government innovation.
Meanwhile, Rick Kaplan, currently Genachowski’s chief counsel and senior legal adviser will take over as head of the telecom bureau.
The personnel moves are effective June 20, 2011.
In her new role Milkman will lead a team developing proposals for procedural and regulatory changes to further innovation. Milkman has served as chief of the bureau since August 2009.
“With Ruth Milkman as chief, the wireless bureau has reached new heights in spectrum policy
development and thought leadership in the area of auctions. I am pleased that she will take on new and important responsibilities, including expansion of innovation in government,” Genachowski said in an FCC release.
Milkman’s successor, Kaplan previously served as chief of staff for Commissioner Mignon Clyburn and as deputy coordinator of the FCC DTV task force under Genachowski’s predecessor.
Kaplan “has played an integral part in the commission’s policymaking over the last year especially in the area of wireless communications and he will bring that experience to bear as chief of the wireless telecommunications bureau,” Genachowski said.
Washington Post technology blog Post Tech notes the staff “musical chairs†comes as FCC is considering the merger between AT&T and T-Mobile, for which the commission has appointed a special commission.
