Acting FCC Chairman Michael Copps has named his senior legal advisor, Rick Chessen, as his chief of staff.
Chessen, an FCC veteran, was chairman of the commission’s DTV Task Force and associate director of the FCC Media Bureau before leaving in 2005 for private practice.
Scott Deutchman will serve as the acting senior legal advisor. He previously has been Copps’ Competition and Universal Service legal advisor.
Paul Murray, who is currently a legal advisor to the Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, will serve on an interim basis as the Legal Advisor for wireless and international issues.
Bruce Gottlieb, who has served as Legal Advisor for wireless and international issues, has taken a temporary leave of absence.
Copps will hold the FCC gavel until the expected nomination and confirmation of Julius Genachowski.
Like Genchowski, former Chairman Kevin Martin and President Obama, Chessen is a Harvard Law School guy, although from a slightly earlier class (1986).
