Today, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski announced that he would be stepping down from his post, which he has held since the 2008 election of President Barack Obama.

The following statement is attributed to Casey Rae, Deputy Director of Future of Music Coalition (FMC), a national non-profit research, education and advocacy organization for musicians.

“News of Chairman Genachowski’s departure was not unexpected, and comes at a crucial time for the FCC in terms of its commitments to an accessible media and communications environment for America.

“When Chairman Genachowski was appointed to lead the FCC, we saw a clear path for him to set a proactive agenda and advance the Commission’s stated goals of localism, competition and diversity. While Genachowski can count some accomplishments on this front, such as expanded Low Power FM, the promulgation of basic rules to preserve an open internet as well as opposition to a proposed merger between AT&T and T-Mobile, there were also missed opportunities. Commercial radio remains highly concentrated, with few openings for female and minority ownership, as well as restrictive programming which fails to reflect the diverse expression found in our local communities.

“Bold leadership at the FCC is as needed today as it was five years ago. Accessible and affordable high-quality internet remains out of reach in too many American towns and cities. Internet Service Providers and mobile carriers are free to impose arbitrary data caps on consumers. And the virtues of an open and accessible internet where creative entrepreneurs can express and innovate must be defended. “We recognize Genachowski’s service, and look forward to the appointment of an FCC Chairperson who can advance an agenda that will have lasting positive impact on American media and our diverse cultural communities.”