Before that, he served as a law clerk to Judge Skelley Wright on the D.C. Circuit and Justice William Brennan of the United States Supreme Court. His breadth of experience and extraordinary legal talent provide just what we need to coordinate and expedite our handling of the applications accompanying the unprecedented wave of mergers in the communications field. Mr. Bird and Mr. Wright are meeting with the Federal Communications Bar to discuss the timeline and other important issues relating to the Commission's handling of the applications with the Federal Communications Bar. In addition, an open meeting will be held so that all interested parties, such as industry and consumer groups, can provide input on these streamlined procedures. Date and time will be announced shortly in a public notice.
Implementation is already underway.
Mr. Bird and Mr. Wright have begun working closely with other Commission staff on pending applications to ensure timely and consistent review. A team is being established to work with the bureaus and to ensure consistent analysis of major transactions in a timely fashion. In addition to Mr. Bird, the team will consist of four other lawyers, an economist, and two support staff. Announcements for these positions have been posted, and potential applicants should consult the Commission's website promptly.