Ex-FCC Member Named to PUC
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday appointed Rachelle Chong, a former member of the Federal Communications Commission, to fill a vacancy on the California Public Utilities Commission.
Chong, a Republican, has a background in telecommunications law and policy. She was a member of the FCC from 1994 to 1997, during which a major overhaul was implemented with the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
Most recently she operated her own business as a mediator, arbitrator and expert witness in telecommunications.
Chong’s background in telecommunications “in conjunction with her exceptional understanding of the regulatory environment will be a tremendous asset to the public utilities commission,” Schwarzenegger said in a statement.
Chong will succeed Commissioner Susan Kennedy, a Democrat whom the Republican governor picked at the end of November to be his chief of staff.
The appointment requires state Senate confirmation.
The five-member commission regulates investor-owned utilities, including gas, electricity, telephone, water, railroads and certain passenger and household goods carriers.
More to Read
Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter
Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond. In your inbox three times per week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
