*President-elect Barack Obama has chosen his former Harvard Law classmate Julian Genachoswski as nominee for chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, according to reports.
Genachowski, who has served as Obama's technology advisor, has held several posts at Barry Diller's Internet media business IACI and has previously been a chief counsel for former FCC Chairman Reed Hundt, chairman under former President Bill Clinton.
The nominee is expected to face two big upcoming Internet-related issues. The first is Obama's ambitious plan to invest in broadband technology expansion as part of his economic stimulus package.
The second more challenging issue is Net neutrality, the idea of an open and level Internet for all players regardless of their size. The FCC chair will attempt to manage the expectations of Internet service providers, content companies and everyday consumers.
But the first order of business for Genachowski, should he secure the post, will be ensuring the congressionally mandated conversion to digital television on Feb. 17 goes smoothly. Obama aides have backed an idea to delay the planned transition to avoid millions of televisions going blank.