NEWINGTON, CT, Jun 2, 2006--Robert M. McDowell has been sworn in as an FCC commissioner by FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin, returning the agency to its full five-member complement for the first time in more than a year. Earlier this week, after some delay due to political maneuvering, the US Senate confirmed the nomination of McDowell, of Virginia, to fill the seat vacated last December by Kathleen Q. Abernathy. His term will expire June 30, 2009.
"I am honored and humbled to be joining such a distinguished group of commissioners as well as the fine career public servants at the FCC," McDowell said in a statement. "There are many challenging issues facing the Commission, and I am eager to begin working on them with my fellow commissioners, with Congress, and with the American people. I am confident that our efforts will help bring the most advanced and efficient communications systems in the world to all American consumers."
Martin applauded McDowell's arrival, which gives him a Republican majority on the FCC for the first time in his tenure as chairman. Since Martin--an FCC member during Michael Powell's tenure as chairman--took over the chairmanship, the political balance on the Commission has been split evenly between two Republicans and two Democrats. Members of a president's political party hold a majority on the FCC.
In addition to Martin, McDowell--a telecommunications attorney--will join fellow Republican Deborah T. Tate, who officially came aboard January 3. The Commission's two Democrats are Michael J. Copps, who is in his second term, and Jonathan Adelstein.
McDowell brings to the FCC nearly 16 years of private-sector experience in the telecommunication industry. Prior to his FCC appointment, he served as senior vice president and assistant general counsel for the Competitive Telecommunications Association (COMPTEL). Earlier he was executive vice president and general counsel for the America's Carriers Telecommunications Association. Before joining COMPTEL, McDowell was the executive vice president and general counsel of America's Carriers Telecommunications Association (ACTA), which merged with COMPTEL in 1999.
He has served on the North American Numbering Council and on the board of directors of North American Numbering Plan Billing and Collection Inc.
A cum laude graduate of Duke University, McDowell received his law degree from the College of William and Mary's Marshall-Wythe School of Law.
McDowell has been extensively involved in civic and political affairs, having served on numerous boards and commissions. He was appointed by Virginia Gov George Allen to the Governor's Advisory Board for a Safe and Drug-Free Virginia and to the Virginia Board for Contractors, to which he was reappointed by Gov Jim Gilmore.
In addition, McDowell is a veteran of several presidential campaigns and served as counsel to the Bush-Cheney Florida Recount Team in 2000. McDowell has twice been a candidate for the Virginia General Assembly.
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