Washington - The National Association of Broadcasters has hired former top FCC staffer Rick Kaplan as executive vice president, strategic planning. In this newly created position, Kaplan will lead the NAB's efforts related to spectrum and innovation policy. His first day is Oct. 22, 2012.

Kaplan worked extensively in media and wireless fields while at the FCC. He joined the Commission in 2009 as deputy coordinator for the DTV transition, helping facilitate the final stages of its completion, before becoming chief of staff to Commissioner Mignon Clyburn. Kaplan also served as chief counsel to Chairman Julius Genachowski, serving as the chairman's lead policy counsel on issues such as wireless, media, engineering, and public safety issues. He left the Commission this summer after serving as chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.

While with the FCC, Kaplan had a reputation as a consensus-builder and a leading voice on spectrum policy, championing causes such as spectral efficiency and spectrum sharing. He also helped lead the Commission's review of major transactions including Comcast-NBCU, AT&T-T-Mobile, AT∓T-Qualcomm and Verizon-SpectrumCo.

Kaplan began his career as public relations professional in the sports industry and started his own PR and management company, Kaplan Sports Group. He was an associate with the law practice Sidley Austin, working in federal and state court litigation and advising clients on financial regulation and privacy. Immediately prior to joining the FCC, Kaplan was assistant counsel in the Office of the General Counsel with the House of Representatives.

Kaplan earned a B.A. in Philosophy from Wesleyan University and a J.D. from Columbia Law School, where he was editor-in-chief of the Columbia Law Review. He began his legal career as a law clerk for Judge Harry T. Edwards of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.