Washington - Jan 5, 2009 - FCC Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate has left the Federal Communications Commission. She was originally appointed to the commission by President Bush on Nov. 9, 2005 for the remainder of a term ending June 30, 2007. President Bush reappointed her to the position at that time for a term that would expire June 30, 2012. She is one of the three Republican commissioners currently on the commission, Martin and McDowell being the other two.

She issued a statement on her departure:
My term as Commissioner has come to an end, and I would like to express what a great privilege and honor it has been to serve our country and the Federal Commissions Commission over the past three years. I am grateful to President Bush for his appointment and for his confidence in my ability to make important decisions on behalf of the American people.

In cooperation with my fellow Commissioners, we have made history: implementing successful spectrum auctions, creating a new homeland security bureau, providing broadband grants for rural healthcare and overseeing the digital transition for television. I am extremely proud of our work on behalf of children and families, for persons with disabilities and for spurring new investment and innovation.

Looking to the future, I will continue to speak out on issues affecting children and families, from childhood obesity to child online safety, both here and around the world. As a proud citizen of Nashville, Music City USA, I will continue to be dedicated to protecting our stories and storytellers, and to opposing the economic and moral harm of piracy.

As a Rule 31 mediator, I am excited about launching a formal mediation practice that will utilize the skills I have practiced daily at the Commission to develop resolution, consensus and collaboration in the communications sector and beyond. Finally, I hope to be engaged in a dialogue to fully engage the Information, Communications and Technologies (ICT) sectors more collaboratively with our energy providers to positively impact our nation’s goal of true energy independence.

I would like to thank the Commission's professional staff, which includes the finest, most honorable group of civil servants in our government. They are viewed as the “gold standard” by our international colleagues and I appreciate their dedication, integrity and commitment. All Americans should be proud of their work.

And finally, I would like to thank my colleagues, and offer my best wishes as they continue to address these critical issues for America and Americans in the coming years.