Chairman Genachowski On the Departure Of Sherrese Smi

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March 20, 2013

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STATEMENT FROM FCC CHAIRMAN JULIUS GENACHOWSKI ON THE

DEPARTURE OF SHERRESE SMITH AS CHIEF COUNSEL

& SENIOR LEGAL ADVISOR

Washington, D.C. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski issued the following statement on the

departure of Sherrese Smith as Chief Counsel & Senior Legal Advisor.

Now it's time for a difficult goodbye. Sherrese Smith my Chief Counsel and the last

remaining member of my original team of legal advisors is leaving the FCC.

Sherrese's expertise in media, cable and broadcast issues is unmatched in the industry, and her

list of accomplishments over the past four years is remarkable. She brokered the agreement with

mobile providers to help end bill shock a problem that costs millions of U.S. consumers

hundreds, and sometimes thousands of dollars. She led the revamp of the Video Relay Service,

preserving a vital communications link for deaf and hard-of-hearing people and saving taxpayers

$275 million dollars. She helped navigate the broadcast spectrum issues in the incentive

auctions and helped cable companies get rid of superfluous rules such as encryption rules that

impeded growth in technology and innovation. She spearheaded the effort to move broadcasters'

public files from file cabinets to the Internet, substantially increasing transparency for citizens,

journalists, and others. And she helped close the terrestrial loophole, promoting greater

competition in the pay-TV market.

But more impressive than her accomplishments is Sherrese's character. She was one of my

most trusted advisors a close confidant whom I consulted on almost every major decision and

issue. She had the rare combination of policy expertise and people skills that you need to get big

things done. And I am not alone in my admiration of Sherrese. She's one of the most respected

and well-liked people at the Commission by both her peers and by outside parties -- from

consumer advocates to industry leaders. Simply put, everybody loves Sherrese.

-FCC-

LINK:	http://www.fcc.gov/document/chairman-genachowski-departure-sherrese-sm...
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