NEWS
Federal Communications Commission
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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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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
July 6, 2010                                                                 Jen Howard, (202) 418-0506
 jen.howard@fcc.gov
RICK KAPLAN TO SUCCEED BRUCE GOTTLIEB 
AS CHIEF COUNSEL TO FCC CHAIRMAN JULIUS GENACHOWSKI
Washington, D.C. -- Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski announced 
today the appointment of Rick Kaplan as Chief Counsel and Senior Legal Advisor.  He will succeed 
Bruce Gottlieb, the Chairman’s current Chief Counsel and Senior Legal Advisor, who will be leaving the 
Commission at the end of July, after four and a half years of service.
Mr. Kaplan will manage the Commission’s overall agenda and will be responsible for policy coordination 
among the Bureaus and Offices.  In addition, he will have particular responsibility for wireless, 
engineering and technology, and public safety issues.
“Rick brings a wealth of experience and achievement to the Commission—as an attorney, public servant, 
and successful entrepreneur,” said Chairman Genachowski.  “He has a keen intellect, great judgment, 
deep insight into the challenges and opportunities of the modern communications landscape, and the 
ability to build consensus among a wide variety of stakeholders.  I am delighted that he has agreed to join 
my senior leadership team.”  
“I also would like to recognize Bruce for his exemplary service to the Commission,” said Chairman 
Genachowski.  “He has a brilliant mind and a unique ability to solve some of the most challenging 
problems we face, which has earned him respect and affection inside and outside of the FCC.  I am 
grateful for his tireless efforts over the past year as my Chief Counsel, as well as during the eight months 
he took a leave of absence from the agency to manage my Senate confirmation process.  Bruce will 
remain a trusted advisor and friend, and I wish him great success in the next phase of his career.”
Mr. Kaplan has served as the Chief of Staff for Commissioner Mignon Clyburn since her appointment in 
August 2009.  He first joined the Commission in early 2009 as deputy coordinator of the DTV task force, 
where he oversaw a number of aspects of the Commission’s role in the nation’s successful transition to 
digital television.
Prior to his service at the Commission, Mr. Kaplan worked as an associate at Sidley Austin LLP, where 
he focused on appellate litigation and regulatory matters.  Mr. Kaplan also served in the Office of the 
General Counsel at the U.S. House of Representatives, where he was primarily responsible for litigating 
and advising Members of Congress on separation of powers issues.  Mr. Kaplan began his legal career as 
a law clerk for Judge Harry T. Edwards of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.    
In addition to his legal work, from 1998-2005, Mr. Kaplan owned and operated a sports communications 
and management agency in New York.  He represented and counseled professional athletes, sports 
leagues and sports-related businesses on contract negotiations, community efforts, and crisis 
communications.
Mr. Kaplan received his B.A. from Wesleyan University and his J.D. from Columbia Law School, where 
he was a Kent Scholar and Editor-in-Chief of the Columbia Law Review.
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