Michael Kevin Powell

Michael Kevin Powell (born March 23, 1963) is an American attorney and lobbyist who served as the 24th chairman of the Federal Communications Commission from 2001 to 2005.

Powell was appointed to the FCC by President Bill Clinton on November 3, 1997, and was chosen by President George W. Bush to serve as chairman of the commission on January 22, 2001. Powell is the son of former secretary of state Colin Powell and his wife Alma Powell, and is described as a moderate republican.

Early life and education Michael Kevin Powell was born in Birmingham, Alabama, on March 23, 1963, the first child of Colin and Alma (née Johnson) Powell. He and his unit were traveling in a convoy on the autobahn. Powell was riding in a jeep at the time. Due to heavy rain, the jeep crashed and Powell was ejected from the vehicle. After he hit the pavement, the jeep bounced and crashed down on Powell's midsection.

Half of Powell's pelvis had snapped off its rear anchor on the lower spine. In the front, it had ripped free of the cartilage connecting it to its other half. His bladder and urethra were torn and several vertebrae were cracked.

Federal Communications Commission As the chairman of the FCC, Powell led the charge to open up markets in VoIP, Wi-Fi, and Broadband over Powerline (BPL). His approach presumed that these new communications technologies would allow small companies to take on established corporations, and that regulations often stood in the way of progress. Powell's deregulatory policy coincided with a period of significant consolidation in the communications market. He advocated an updating of media ownership rules to reflect the entrance of new communications technologies such as the Internet. Such rules implemented legal restrictions preventing monopolies and oligopolies of ownership and viewpoint amongst media and news providers. Powell's moves were derided by critics as likely to increase already rampant media consolidation.

During his tenure as chair, he spoke at the University of California, San Diego, on January 26, 2004. In the talk, Powell spoke about the policymaking process in Washington, and about how ultra-wideband might impact telecommunications.

Powell opposed applying telephone-era regulations to new Internet technologies, a move critics charged would deny open access to communications facilities. He articulated a policy of network neutrality, and in March 2005 fined Madison River Communications for blocking voice-over-IP (VoIP) applications, the first-ever government action of that kind. Powell worked to give consumers the right to keep phone numbers when switching wireless carriers. He also championed the National Do Not Call Registry. While at the FCC, Powell was also the FCC's defense commissioner and oversaw all National Security Emergency Preparedness functions for the commission.

Approach to indecency Howard Stern and other controversial on-air personalities felt the sting of record fines, and both the U.S. House and Senate separately approved legislation significantly increasing the amount of money a station could be fined for indecency. Although the legislation was not ultimately enacted, the climate in Washington became so grey that several TV stations across the country declined to air Saving Private Ryan on Veterans Day for fear of FCC fines. Powell was interviewed on San Francisco talk radio station KGO (AM) when Stern called in to confront Powell. Stern questioned Powell's credentials, saying he got the job only because of his father and accused Powell of targeting him and fining him large amounts of money.

Lobbying, net neutrality, and roles post-FCC Powell resigned as chairman of the FCC on January 21, 2005. He said that he was glad to spend more time with his wife. In March 2006, Powell became a member of the board of trustees for the RAND Corporation. He served two terms as a member of the Board of Visitors at his alma mater, the College of William and Mary, from 2002 to 2009. On April 21, 2006, Powell was elected the Rector of the Board of Visitors, making him the first African-American to serve in that post in the college's 313-year history. He served as rector for two terms, stepping down on July 1, 2009.

On March 15, 2011, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) announced that Powell would take the helm from Kyle McSlarrow beginning April 25. Powell left his advisory role with Providence Equity Partners. In 2012, he spoke with FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski and gave the keynote speech during the industry's Cable Show. In April 2012, he contributed an opinion piece to Politico about the importance of cyber threats.

As a lobbyist representing the telecommunications companies, Powell published numerous editorials and opinion pieces around the country claiming to support net neutrality and opposing the FCC's enforcement of net neutrality through broadband reclassification as a Title II service.

Political activity Described as a "moderate Republican", Powell has been involved with Republican political campaigns. In the 1990s, Powell urged his father, Colin Powell, to run for president. During the 2008 presidential election, Powell advised and supported Republican nominee John McCain, while his father supported Democratic nominee Barack Obama.

In 2012, The Washington Post speculated that Powell was considering a candidacy for Mayor of the District of Columbia in the 2014 election, though he declined to enter the race.

In 2013, Powell was a signatory to an amicus curiae brief submitted to the Supreme Court in support of same-sex marriage as part of the Hollingsworth v. Perry case.

Personal life Powell married Jane Knott in 1988; they have two children.