doi:10.7916/sr7v-sn50Oral history interview with Julius Genachowski, 2021Genachowski, Julius M., 1962-oral historiesmixed materialPresidents--United StatesBroadband communication systems--Law and legislation--United StatesTechnology and state--United StatesSocial media in government--United StatesGenachowski, Julius M., 1962-Obama, BarackColumbia University Alumni and alumnaeHarvard Law SchoolUnited States. Federal Communications CommissionUnited StatesAmerican Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009Julius Genachowski discusses his personal relationship with Barack Obama and reflects on his contributions to Obama's 2008 campaign, transition, and presidential administration, in which he served as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from 2009 to 2013. Genachowski remembers becoming friends with Obama while classmates at Harvard Law School, and shares stories about conversations they had about the relationship between politics and new communications technologies, which proved important during the 2008 campaign. Genachowski describes his efforts to expand the 2008 campaign's technology staff, and the focus on using the internet and nascent social media platforms for organizing, communicating, and fundraising. Genachowski also discusses his contribution to the technology, media, and telecommunications policy groups on both the campaign and transition, and outlines how this early work informed his tenure as FCC chair, including by its increased focus on internet and broadband over television and radio, and the inclusion of a provision in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that required the FCC to develop a national broadband plan. Also discussed are the creation of the positions of chief technology officer and chief information officer, their roles in the Obama White House, and Genachowski's involvement in the selection of personnel for the positions