 The commission had gotten off to a slow start earlier that year due to problems with vacancies; Lafount was slotted for the Fifth Zone of the new entity, to replace original commissioner John F. Dillon, who had died shortly after taking that position.News of the appointment came as a surprise to the other members of the commission, since Lafount had little presence in the radio industry.Upon arriving in Washington, D.C., for his new position, Lafount wanted to thank the president personally.