Michael Powell (lobbyist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Powell
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| 24th Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission | |
| In office January 22, 2001 – January 21, 2005 |
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| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | William Kennard |
| Succeeded by | Kevin Martin |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Michael Kevin Powell
March 23, 1963 Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Jane Knott
(m. 1988) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parents |
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| Relatives | Linda Powell (sister) |
| Education | College of William & Mary (BA) Georgetown University (JD) |
| Salary | $4,645,202.00 (2015) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1985–1988 |
| Unit | 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment |
Michael Kevin Powell (born March 23, 1963) is an American lawyer and leader. He was the 24th chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from 2001 to 2005. The FCC is a government agency that makes rules for how we communicate, like using phones, TV, and the internet. After leaving the FCC, Powell became the president of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA). This group works for companies that provide internet and TV services.
Michael Powell was chosen to join the FCC by President Bill Clinton in 1997. Later, President George W. Bush picked him to be the chairman in 2001. Michael is the son of Colin Powell, who was a famous general and Secretary of State.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Michael Kevin Powell was born in Birmingham, Alabama, on March 23, 1963. He was the first child of Colin Powell and Alma Powell. Because his father was in the military, Michael lived in many different places across the U.S. He went to Lake Braddock High School and graduated in 1981.
He then went to the College of William & Mary on a scholarship. After that, he earned a law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center.
Career Journey
Serving in the Army
Before his law career, Michael Powell was an officer in the United States Army. He served in Germany with the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment. In 1987, he was seriously hurt in a jeep accident during a training mission. The jeep crashed, and he was thrown out, then the jeep landed on him.
After a long recovery, he worked as an advisor to the Secretary of Defense. He also worked as a law clerk for a U.S. court.
Working as a Lawyer
After his military service, Powell worked as a private lawyer in Washington, D.C. He also served in the Clinton Administration as a chief of staff for the Department of Justice's Antitrust Division. This division works to make sure businesses compete fairly.
Leading the FCC
As chairman of the FCC, Michael Powell worked to open up new technologies. These included VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol, which lets you make calls over the internet), Wi-Fi, and Broadband over Powerline (BPL). He believed that new technologies would help smaller companies compete with bigger ones. He also thought that too many rules could slow down progress.
During his time, he wanted to update rules about who could own media companies. He felt the rules needed to change because of new technologies like the Internet. He also supported a policy called network neutrality. This idea means that internet providers should treat all internet traffic equally. In 2005, the FCC fined a company for blocking internet phone calls, which was a first. Powell also helped people keep their phone numbers when they switched wireless carriers. He also supported the National Do Not Call Registry, which helps people avoid unwanted telemarketing calls.
Super Bowl Halftime Show Incident
A big event during his time as FCC chairman was the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy. During the live TV broadcast, there was an unexpected incident. This caused a lot of public discussion about the FCC's rules on what can be shown on TV. Powell later said that the event was "overblown." However, he knew it would cause concern.
After this, the FCC received many more complaints than ever before. They also issued large fines to TV and radio stations for showing or saying things that broke indecency rules.
After the FCC
Michael Powell left his role as FCC chairman on January 21, 2005. He said he was happy to spend more time with his family.
After leaving the FCC, Powell joined the board of trustees for the RAND Corporation. He also served on the Board of Visitors at his old college, the College of William & Mary. In 2006, he became the Rector of the Board of Visitors. This made him the first African-American to hold that position in the college's long history.
Political Involvement
Michael Powell is known as a "moderate Republican." He has been involved in Republican political campaigns. In the 1990s, he encouraged his father, Colin Powell, to run for President. In the 2008 United States presidential election, Michael supported Republican candidate John McCain. His father, Colin Powell, supported Barack Obama.
In 2013, Powell signed a legal document supporting same-sex marriage in a Supreme Court case.
Lobbying and Internet Rules
In 2011, Michael Powell became the president of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA). This group represents cable and internet companies. As a lobbyist, Powell has written many articles. He has talked about supporting net neutrality while also disagreeing with some of the FCC's rules for internet services.
Personal Life
Michael Powell married Jane Knott in 1988, and they have two children. As a young army officer in Germany, he was seriously injured in a jeep accident. He spent a year recovering in the hospital. The injury affected his spine, causing him to walk with a slight forward lean for the rest of his life.
See also
In Spanish: Michael Powell (cabildero) para niños
