Mr. Genachowski

Former FCC chairman Dick Wiley thinks President Obama's likely choice for FCC chief, Julius Genachowski, will build a commission that is tough on media mergers and acquisitions.

Wiley, a partner at law firm Wiley Rein, believes Genachowski's focus will be broadband, technology innovation and net neutrality, writes MediaBuyerPlanner.

paidContent also speculates that Genachowski will favor of network neutrality — and of postponing the Feb. 17 transition to DTV.

Stifel and Nicolaus analysts David Kaut and Rebecca Arbogast said (via Multichannel News), "We would expect Genachowski to pursue the Obama communications agenda [which he helped develop] of promoting greater broadband deployment and access, an open internet and network neutrality, competition and innovation, and media diversity, among other broad goals."

Industry watchers believe Genachowski was involved in advising Obama to request a delay on the DTV transition. The eventual switch will affect 20 million customers whose TVs still operate via analog over-the-air signals.

Broadcasters hope Genachowski will take a more moderate approach to enforcement of indecency standards, according to the Wall Street Journal, while the National Association of Broadcasters called him a "superb" choice.

Julius Genachowski served as law clerk at the Supreme Court from 1992 to 1994, followed by an executive position at InterActive Corp. — the parent company of Ask.com — from 1997 to 2005. He also held a handful of positions at the FCC during the Clinton Administration.

Genachowski is a member of Obama's advisement team and was considered a front-runner for FCC Chairman prior to this news.