NEWS News media Information 202 / 418-0500Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830TTY 202/418-2555Internet: http://www.fcc.govftp.fcc.gov 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). FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: April 16, 2010 John Giusti at (202) 418-2000 STATEMENT BY FCC COMMISSIONER MICHAEL J. COPPS ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT BLAIR LEVIN WILL JOIN THE ASPEN INSTITUTE “In the wake of the announcement that Blair Levin will leave the Commission, I want to express my personal thanks for the great public service he has provided the American people. Blair rejoined the agency at a critical time—bringing a wealth of technology and market expertise, as well as institutional knowledge from his former days as FCC Chief of Staff, to the role of Executive Director of the Commission’s Omnibus Broadband Initiative. “Since joining the Commission in 2001, I have called for, hoped for and dreamed about a National Broadband Plan to ensure that every American has high-speed, opportunity-creating, affordable broadband. It took a long time for good news to come—but come it did in the mandate from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act last year. With exceptional ability and grace under pressure, Blair put together and managed a remarkable broadband team charged to deliver a clear objective and a considered strategy aimed at ensuring that everyone in this country has equal opportunity in this new Digital Age. “In developing the Plan, Blair managed a process that was more comprehensive, open, public and transparent than any that I have encountered at the Commission. He cast a wide net to make the process inclusive, and searched out a myriad of traditional and non-traditional stakeholders that deserved to be heard. I commend him for this. The Commission will miss his skills and expertise. But from his perch at the Aspen Institute Communications and Society Program, I am confident that Blair will continue to contribute very measurably on the issues to which he has devoted so much time and energy. I look forward to his wise counsel and wish him and his family all good things on the road ahead.” - FCC -