Commissioner Rachelle Chong was appointed to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) by Governor Schwarzenegger in January 2006.  She has been a career communications regulatorY attorney, practicing before both the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as well as the CPUC with the law firms of Kadison, Pfaelzer, Woodard, Quinn & Rossi and Graham & James.  

 

At the CPUC, she has been deeply involved in issues relating to telecommunications regulation,       consumer education, climate change, demand response and dynamic pricing.  In May 1994, President Clinton nominated Commissioner Chong to the FCC.  She distinguished herself as an advocate of simple pragmatic regulation, competitive communications markets, and First Amendment rights. The FCC implemented the historic Telecommunications Act of 1996 during her tenure.  In November 1997, Commissioner Chong returned to private practice as a partner with Coudert Brothers, representing Internet and communications clients.

 

 In 2000, she became General Counsel and Vice President, Government Affairs for BroadBand Office, Inc.  In August 2001, she became an entrepreneur, operating a retail shop and ecommerce website for five years.  She is proud to be the first Asian American to serve as a Commissioner of the FCC and the CPUC.  She is a graduate of UC Berkeley and UC Hastings College of the Law.  She is the author of "The 31 Flavors Of The Net Neutrality Debate:  Beware The Trojan Horse," published by ACLP in December 2007, and is a leading authority among state regulators on the topic.