President-elect Barak Obama intends to appoint one of his most important technology advisers to head the Federal Communications Commission. The move comes just at a time when communications policy is at a point from which it must move forward and implement very significant changes in the high-tech business landscape.

The appointing of Julius Genachowski, who has a vast experience in the corporate technology and in the public sector as well, could signal the new administration’s plans to focus on new Internet technologies for the agency. Genachowski was classmate of Obama at the Columbia College and Harvard Law School and also raised approximately $500,000 for his campaign. The two are now basketball buddies.

Mr. Genachowski’s appointment also signals that the new administration will boost efforts to solve issues affecting telecommunications and media companies. In his plan released in 2007, Obama vowed to revamp government programs to expand the reach of high-speed Internet service. The President-elect also said he will support "network neutrality," which means barring carriers from moving some Internet traffic faster at the expense of other traffic. This "network neutrality" is a Key point of interest for major Internet, cable and phone companies.

Mr. Genachowski has a vast experience both in the public and the private sector. The 46-year-old adviser was chief of business operations and general counsel at Barry Diller's media conglomerate IAC/InterActive Corp. He also co-founded D.C.-based venture capital firm, LaunchBox Digital. Genachowski also served as chief counsel to former FCC Chairman Reed Hundt in the 1990s during the Clinton administration.