FCC chief of staff to leave in January

Federal Communications Commission Chief of Staff Edward Lazarus plans to leave his position Jan. 31, NextGov reports.

Lazarus served as top aide to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski since June 2009. Genachowski credits Lazarus with Universal Service Fund reform , the creation of the Connect America Fund, consumer empowerment around 'bills shock,' and increased consumer protection. "These and other initiatives to grow our economy and benefit our citizens would not have been possible without Eddie," Genachowski wrote in a Dec. 14 statement.

Lazarus came to the FCC from the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld. He also wrote "Closed Courts," a book based on his time as a law clerk for Justice Harry Blackmun. He has not announced his future plans.