Telecom Expert Appointed to CPUC

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Rachelle Chong, a telecommunications expert, to fill the California Public Utilities Commission seat left vacant by Susan Kennedy. Kennedy left for a position as the governor's chief of staff in early December. During her first CPUC meeting, Chong thanked the governor "for making me an offer I couldn't refuse." She said she did not know much about energy issues or transportation. "I want to study hard," she added. Chong, the first Asian American to serve on the CPUC, was sworn in just before the January 12 meeting. She will finish out Kennedy's term through 2008. Her past experience includes an appointment by former president Bill Clinton to serve on the Federal Communications Commission. Chong presided there from 1992 to 1997. "Commissioner Chong's deep experience with communications policy development at the federal level will help the PUC achieve important reforms in the rapidly changing communications marketplace," stated CPUC president Mike Peevey. The commission is expected to reconsider its telecommunications "bill of rights" at the end of this month. "She will have an opportunity in two weeks to show whether she stands up for consumers," said Mindy Spatt, The Utility Reform Network spokesperson. Chong also has considerable broadband experience. That could advance the commission's nascent efforts to allow utilities to engage in the business of using broadband over power lines for Internet service. For two years, Chong was general counsel for BroadBand Office Inc. Chong was formerly a partner with the law firm Gramm and James and represented telecommunications clients before the CPUC for seven years. She graduated from Hastings College School of Law and received a B.A. in both journalism and political science from UC Berkeley

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Telecom Expert Appointed to CPUC

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