Chairman Genachowski Appoints Director of Digital Learning

NEWS

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This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.

See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).

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April 16, 2013

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FCC CHAIRMAN JULIUS GENACHOWSKI APPOINTS DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL

LEARNING TO LEAD FCC EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVES

Michael Steffen, legal advisor to the Chairman, appointed to new digital learning role;

Matthew Quinn named Director of Healthcare Initiatives

Washington, D.C. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski today announced the appointment of Michael

Steffen as Director of Digital Learning to lead the FCC's work within the agency and across government,

public, and private partners to modernize broadband infrastructure in U.S. schools and libraries and

expand access to the opportunities of digital technologies for America's teachers, students, and parents.

The FCC is the largest funder of Internet connectivity in K-12 schools in the United States.

Chairman Genachowski said, We are at a critical moment for education technology. Broadband and

digital tools have game-changing potential for education. Our significant E-Rate reforms in 2010 were a

strong start to lower costs and expand broadband access to schools and libraries, but we're going to need

to take some more big steps to unlock the opportunity of digital learning. Michael Steffen has been a key

part of my senior leadership team, spearheading numerous major accomplishments to expand access to

broadband. I am thrilled that he'll now be bringing his rigorous analysis, problem-solving, and consensus-

building skills to his new role as Director of Digital Learning.

The creation of the new position builds on the Commission's ongoing work in education. Last year,

Chairman Genachowski and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan launched the Digital Textbooks

Initiative, a collaboration between the FCC, the Department of Education, the education technology

industry, and nonprofit organizations to give all students access to advanced digital learning materials

within five years. The FCC and Department of Education also joined technology and education leaders to

form the Leading Education by Advancing Digital (LEAD) Commission to analyze trends and present

policy and funding recommendations. LEAD is co-chaired by Columbia University President Lee

Bollinger, TPG Capital co-founder James Coulter, former Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings and

Common Sense Media founder and CEO James Steyer. In 2011, the Commission adopted significant

reforms of its E-Rate program to expand access to school connectivity after hours, facilitate access to

fiber, and modernize application procedures.

Today's announcement continues the Chairman's appointment of dedicated cross-bureau leadership to

advance broadband deployment and use for critical sectors of our economy. Last month, the Chairman

appointed Matthew Quinn as Director of Healthcare Initiatives. In this role, Quinn leads the agency's

efforts in facilitating and promoting communications technologies and services that improve the quality

of health care for all citizens and help reduce health care costs; facilitating the availability of medical

devices that use spectrum; and ensuring hospitals and other health care facilities have required

connectivity. In addition, Quinn advises the FCC on health issues, working closely with the team

overhauling the $400 million Rural Health Care program, and coordinating with federal partners

including the NIH and the FDA, and with the private health care sector to develop effective FCC

programs related to healthcare technology.

Staff Bios

Michael Steffen

first joined the Commission in 2009, and has most recently served as the Chairman's

legal advisor on wireline, international, and Internet policy issues. In that role, he has overseen

implementation of the Commission's landmark overhaul of its rural universal service programs and

creation of the Connect America Fund, the largest-ever broadband infrastructure program for rural

America. He has also overseen all Commission activities related to universal service funding for schools

and libraries, coordinated on education technology and connectivity issues across government, and served

as the Commission's liaison to private sector and non-profit initiatives, including the LEAD Commission.

Mr. Steffen also led the launch of the Commission's most sophisticated and in-depth data collection ever

for enterprise and community anchor broadband services; release of two Measuring Broadband America

reports on consumer broadband speed and quality; creation of the Technology Transitions Task Force to

comprehensively review Commission policies in light of ongoing network and market transitions;

streamlining and modernization of reporting and regulatory burdens across the International Bureau; and

other priority initiatives.

Prior to joining the Chairman's office, Mr. Steffen served as a Special Counsel in the Office of General

Counsel, where he advised on universal service issues, major transactions, and other priority projects.

Mr. Steffen previously served as Executive Director of Universities Allied for Essential Medicines,

working on global access to medicines and student empowerment on global health issues, and at the

Center for Democracy and Technology, focusing on copyright, Internet governance, and consumer

privacy. Mr. Steffen graduated from Yale Law School and clerked for Judge David S. Tat

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