Congress finally confirmed Julius Genachowski as chair of the Federal Communications Commission, and Robert McDowell as a commissioner.

Meanwhile, meeting widespread expectation, Meredith Attwell Baker was nominated to become a commissioner. Baker had previously served as the NTIA’s acting assistant secretary for communications and information, as senior counsel for Covad Communications from 2000 to 2002, and as director of congressional affairs at the CTIA from 1998 to 2000.

Baker will similarly have to be confirmed, as will the other nominee, Mignon Clyburn.

The fifth commissioner is Michael Copps, who had been serving as acting chairman until Genachowski’s confirmation today.

The FCC’s most prominent project will be crafting a National Broadband Policy (story here), which is likely to address many other issues related to communications policy and the nature of competition among service providers in the U.S.

National Cable & Telecommunications Association President and CEO Kyle McSlarrow and American Cable Association President and CEO Matthew Polka offered congratulations to those confirmed and those nominated.