In a widely expected move, President Obama has nominated Republican FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell to another term at the agency.
The new appointment is good for five years. McDowell has served on the FCC since May 2006, when then-President Bush chose him to fill former FCC Chairman Michael Powell’s seat.
Obama said McDowell has shown especial leadership in several areas.
"He has worked to create rules governing wireless auctions; establish a framework for unlicensed use of TV 'white spaces' spectrum; develop incentives to encourage the development of new broadband technologies; review public interest benefits as part of the approval process of proposed corporate mergers; and adjudicate enforcement proceedings," the White House said in a June 2 press release.
McDowell also has sided with small cable operators, the ones that struggle – often in rural areas – to keep up with the rules applied to mega-companies such as Time Warner Cable (TWC). For that support, Matthew Polka, president and CEO of the American Cable Association, lauded news of McDowell’s renomination.
“Commissioner McDowell has repeatedly demonstrated he understands that the cost of government regulation can harm small cable companies,” Polka said in a prepared statement. “We agreed with Commissioner McDowell when he voted to exempt small cable providers from rules that required cable carriage of many TV stations in both analog and digital formats for at least three years. ACA also supported Commissioner McDowell when he opposed deep cuts in cable leased access rates, a view later endorsed by the Office of Management and Budget and the U.S. Court of Appeals.”
McDowell came to the FCC from competitive telecom association COMPTEL, where, as a senior executive, he worked as general counsel.
