Copps submits notice to resign from FCC

Democratic Commissioner Michael Copps officially announced his resignation from the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday, confirming his plans to depart at the end of the year.

“Yesterday, I submitted to the President notice of my intention to resign my post as Commissioner effective January 1, 2012. Should the Senate confirm my successor prior to that date, or should the Senate adjourn sine die before January 1st, I would of course be leaving sooner," Copps said in a statement.

An outspoken advocate for net neutrality, Copps has also taken the commission to task for not doing enough to promote diversity in the media and telecom industry during his decade-long tenure.

He has consistently opposed consolidation in media industry since joining the FCC in 2001 and was the only vote against approving the NBC Universal-Comcast deal.

"It has been a privilege and honor to serve for more than ten years as a Commissioner. The FCC is an agency of true excellence and its decisions are integral to our country’s future," Copps said.

"Ubiquitous, opportunity-creating broadband and a resource-rich media capable of informing our civic dialogue are critically-important components of our future success as a people, and I intend to keep speaking about these challenges as a private citizen in the years ahead."

President Obama has nominated former Senate Commerce Committee aid Jessica Rosenworcel to replace Copps; she worked as his senior legal adviser from 2003 to 2007. Observers believe Rosenworcel's objectives at the FCC will closely resemble those pursued by Copps.

Both Rosenworcel and fellow nominee Ajit Pai are considered uncontroversial but Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) has promised to block the nominations when they reach the Senate floor unless the FCC releases documents related to its review of wireless firm LightSquared.

Before coming to Washington, Copps was a professor of U.S. history at Loyola University of the South. Copps earned a B.A. from Wofford College and a Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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