The rare alignment of the political stars that placed Washington under Democratic control is not lost on Copps, the interim FCC chairman, who wandered in the proverbial desert for eight years at the agency. "The challenge of the hour is to get some of [our priorities] done as quickly as we can do them," said Copps, who will resume his duties as Democratic commissioner upon confirmation of his replacement. "I have very high hopes -- if not now, when, and if not us, who," added the seasoned policy wonk who was chief of staff to then-Sen. Ernest Hollings, D-S.C., for 12 years. Copps, a Wisconsin native, is a history buff who squeezes reading books about Franklin Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson into a hectic schedule that includes keeping tabs on five children and four grandchildren. "I actually did my dissertation in the history of the Gilded Age," recalls the 69-year-old, who earned his Ph.D. at the University of North Carolina after his undergraduate studies at Wofford College in South Carolina.
| Is a Lawyer | |
| Has a PhD |
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| Has Worked in Congress |
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| Has State or Local Experience | |
| Has Lobbied |
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| Has Worked at a Think Tank or in Academia |
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| Has Military Experience | |
| Has Worked as a Business Executive |
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| Has Held Elective Office | |
| Undergraduate Alma Mater | Wofford College |
| Graduate Alma Mater | North Carolina |
Established: 1934
Address: 445 12th St. SW, Washington, DC 20554
Phone: 888-225-5322
2009 Outlays: $438 million
Employment: 1,861
Web Site: www.fcc.gov
Functions: The FCC establishes policies to govern interstate and international communications involving television, radio, wire, satellite, and cable. The commission processes applications for licenses and other filings, evaluates complaints, conducts investigations, and develops and implements regulatory programs.
