TMCnet News
Michael Powell Shares Vision of the Future of CommunicationsBy DAVID SIMS One of the featured keynote speakers at TMC's IT Expo in Los Angeles this week is The Honorable Michael K. Powell, the recently-retired Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission who was much-loved by those in the industry. Powell will be speaking Wednesday at 10:15 a.m. at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
He served at a time of revolutionary change in technology and communications. Appointed to the FCC by President Clinton in 1997, he was designated Chairman by President Bush in 2001. As Chairman, Mr. Powell created what from the industry's view were the right regulatory conditions to stimulate the deployment of technologies such as VoIP. He anticipated the importance of the rise of digital technologies, and the impact they would have on our lives, from health care to education. As Chairman, he was friendly towards initiatives encouraging market-driven policies, promoting consumer interests and getting broadband technology out to people -- via such innovative means as running broadband over power lines, WiFi Hotspots, cable broadband and DSL.
Part of the Powell legacy is certainly more affordable broadband and a narrowing the digital divide. Powell wanted people to be able to keep their phone numbers when switching wireless carriers, and helped fight unwanted telemarketing calls with a Do-Not-Call list. He has been snickered at in some quarters for his emphasis on decency in broadcasting, with the Janet Jackson "wardrobe malfunction" during the Super Bowl held up as an example of government's over-intrusion on broadcasting, but the majority of American broadcast consumers appreciated his sensitivity to their values. And the fact that Howard Stern doesn't like him only raises Powell's stature in many quarters.
Chairman Powell previously served as the Chief of Staff of the Antitrust Division in the Department of Justice, advising the Assistant Attorney General on substantive antitrust matters and managing the division. Powell's presentation is but one of many meaty, useful speeches, seminars, exhibits and networking opportunities available at the Los Angeles Convention Center today, tomorrow and Wednesday.
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