Two Black Women Being Considered For FCC Posts

Johnson And Clyburn

President-Elect BARACK OBAMA is said to be considering appointing the first Black woman to chair the FCC, writes AFRO.COM, quoting a report by BROADCAST ENGINEERING. The two women mentioned are JULIA JOHNSON, a FLORIDA consultant who heads VIDEO ACCESS ALLIANCE, an advocacy and advisory group for independent, emerging and minority networks and Internet content providers; and MIGNON CLYBURN, a member of the PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION of SOUTH CAROLINA, who is a former newspaper publisher and the daughter of House Majority Whip Rep. JAMES CLYBURN, (D-SC).

The first African-American to serve as an FCC commissioner was Dr. BENJAMIN HOOKS, appointed by President NIXON in 1972 and who served until 1977. The first Black chairman of the commission was WILLIAM KENNARD, appointed by President CLINTON in 1997; he left the post in 2001.

KENNARD was succeeded by former Secretary of State COLIN POWELL's son, MICHAEL POWELL, an appointee of President BUSH, who led the commission from 2001-2005.

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