Bush Nominates McDowell FCC Commissioner

By Tara Seals

President Bush has nominated Republican attorney Robert McDowell, COMPTEL’s senior vice president and assistant general counsel, to be a commissioner on the FCC.

Aside from representing COMPTEL members before Congress, the FCC and the appellate courts, McDowell is a veteran of several Republican presidential campaigns most recently as a member of the Bush-Cheney Florida Recount Team.

The President has made an excellent choice in naming Rob McDowell to serve as an FCC Commissioner, said COMPTEL President & CEO Earl Comstock. Robs extensive experience working in the communications industry will be a tremendous asset to the Commission. I know he will prove to be a dedicated and thoughtful public servant.

For once, incumbents agree with the competitors. We applaud the Administration for making this nomination, said Susanne Guyer, Verizon senior vice president of federal regulatory affairs, in a statement. It is important for the FCC to have a full complement of five commissioners. Robert McDowell has the skills and experience to be an outstanding commissioner.

If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, his ascension will tip the existing balance of two Democrats and two Republicans. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, a Republican, has lacked a majority since former chair Michael Powell stepped down last March. By law, the party controlling the White House is given three of the commission’s five seats.