NEWS Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D. C. 20554 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). News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: April 15, 2010 Jen Howard, (202) 418-0506 Email: Jen.Howard@fcc.gov STATEMENT OF FCC CHAIRMAN JULIUS GENACHOWSKI ON THE PASSING OF FORMER FCC COMMISSIONER BENJAMIN L. HOOKS “The nation lost a great leader today in the passing of civil rights champion and former FCC Commissioner Benjamin L. Hooks. His historic appointment as the first African-American Commissioner forever changed the FCC, reminding us of our mission to promote the interests of all Americans. “During his five-year tenure at the FCC in the early 1970s, Mr. Hooks worked tirelessly to expand opportunities for minorities and the poor, communities that had long been without a strong voice at the agency or in the media landscape. He was a fierce advocate for minority broadcast ownership and increasing minority employment in the broadcast industry. His work did not stop there. Just last year, Mr. Hooks urged the FCC to remember that broadband access and adoption are essential to full civic participation in our society. Mr. Hooks’ legacy is a reminder there is still more that the FCC must do to realize his vision of a communications landscape that represents the vibrant diversity of America. “Mr. Hooks’ work at the FCC was part of his lifetime mission to advance equality and justice for all Americans. Born on Jan. 31, 1925, in Memphis, Tenn., Mr. Hooks had a wide-ranging career that gave him unique insight into the challenges and opportunities of American society. He was a Baptist minister for two churches, a businessman, a lawyer, and the first black criminal court judge appointed to the Tennessee bench. Most notably, he served as executive director of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for nearly two decades, shaping that organization just as he had the FCC. “In honor of Mr. Hooks’ lifelong commitment to advancing the participation and rights of minorities and the poor, in 2002, the FCC renamed our Blacks in Government Chapter the FCC- Benjamin Hooks Chapter. “On behalf of the FCC and its past and present staff, I extend condolences to Mr. Hooks’ family, and offer our prayers, thoughts and sympathies during this time of loss.” --FCC--