Power passes to ‘the other’ Powell

Jan 29, 2001 12:00 PM

Commissioner Michael K. Powell, an advocate of free markets and competition, has been designated by President George W. Bush as the new Republican chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. Powell succeeds outgoing Chairman William E. Kennard, whose departure leaves an empty Democrat seat on the commission and a two-to-two political split until Bush nominates a new commissioner.

Nominated to membership on the commission by President Clinton in August 1997, Powell has served as the FCC’s Defense Commissioner, coordinating communications issues affecting national security emergency  preparedness. He headed up the FCC’s Y2K Task Force in 1999.

Early industry response to the appointment has been favorable, including approvals from the heads of the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association, Tom Wheeler, and Personal Communications Industry Association head Jay Kitchen.

“He knows the issues, he knows the new competitive marketplace, he knows how to lead,” Wheeler said. Kitchen remarked that “As a commissioner, [Powell] has supported an open marketplace free of burdensome regulations that will ultimately benefit consumers through increased competition and access to products and services.”

Prior to becoming a commissioner, Powell served as chief of staff of the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice. He is the son of Secretary of State Colin Powell.

See the March issue of Mobile Radio Technology for commentaries by Robert K. Schwaninger Jr. and David A. Keckler on challenges facing the new chairman and how he is likely to proceed.