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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
June 29, 2010        Jen Howard, (202) 418-0506
jen.howard@fcc.gov
 
FCC LAUNCHES DATA INNOVATION INITIATIVE  
Agency Appoints Data Officers and Releases Public Notices of Review
Washington, D.C. -- The Federal Communications Commission today launched the Data Innovation 
Initiative, the agency’s latest action to modernize and streamline how it collects, uses, and disseminates 
data.  With this launch, the FCC continues the changes that were made as part of a comprehensive reform 
effort that is improving the agency’s fact-based, data-driven decision-making.  To lead the Data 
Innovation Initiative, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski today established a new, cross-bureau data 
team, led by the agency’s first-ever Chief Data Officer.
“Smart policies depend on quality data, and public data should be accessible to the public in meaningful 
ways using modern digital tools,” said Chairman Genachowski.  “The Data Innovation Initiative will 
accelerate the FCC’s progress toward becoming a model for excellence in 21st century government. 
Building on the exemplary work of our strategy planning and new media teams, I expect that the data 
team will both streamline and open up our data processes, institutionalizing positive change at the FCC.”
Modernization 
As part of the Data Innovation Initiative, the FCC’s Wireline, Wireless, and Media Bureaus are today 
releasing public notices seeking input on what current data collections should be eliminated, what new 
ones should be added, and how existing collections can be improved. The public notices will also include 
inventories of the Bureaus’ current data collection.  The notices grow out of a recent agency-wide survey
led by the FCC’s Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis (OSP).
Data Team
Greg Elin, Associate Managing Director of New Media at the FCC will assume the newly created Chief 
Data Officer position.  He will lead a team of Chief Data Officers from three FCC Bureaus for this 
initiative:  Robert Alderfer, Chief Data Officer of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau; Kris 
Monteith, Deputy Chief and Chief Data Officer, Media Bureau; and Steven Rosenberg, Chief Data 
Officer, Wireline Competition Bureau. Andrew Martin, Chief Information Officer, Office of Managing 
Director (OMD), as well as representatives of the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, the 
International Bureau, the Office of General Counsel, the Office of Engineering and Technology, OSP and 
OMD will also participate on the data team.
In addition, Michael Byrne has been appointed FCC’s first Geographic Information Officer, in OSP, who 
will lead the FCC’s work with the NTIA in creating a comprehensive national broadband map and 
develop practices for improving the FCC’s use of geographic information.
The launch of the Data Innovation Initiative, the appointment of the data team, and the release of the 
public notices follows other data innovations recently launched at the FCC, which include improving the 
search on ECFS, making more information machine-readable at www.reboot.fcc.gov/data, tools that 
allow consumers to test the performance of their broadband connections that can be found at 
www.broadband.gov, an interactive Spectrum Dashboard, and collaboration with the NTIA to produce a 
National Broadband Map
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