By Kevin McCauley
Michael Powell, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission from 2001-05, has been elected president/CEO of the National Cable & Telecommunications Assn. He is to serve as industry spokesperson and top liaison to Congress, White House and the FCC.
Patrick Esser, chair of NCTA and president of Cox Communications, said Powell's "vast insight into public policy" makes him an ideal fit to lead the industry as its addresses regulatory issues and to promote cable's "commitment to jobs, investment and innovation."
Powell succeeds Kyle McSlarrrow, who took the president job at Comcast/NBC Universal.
Prior to his FCC duty, Powell was chief of staff at the Justice Dept.'s antitrust division, attorney at O'Melveny & Myers and policy advisor at the Defense Dept.
Powell called cable a business that provides "cutting edge services and content that Americans love. He believes its broadband platform is "a critical part of the infrastructure needed to realize our national ambition to be a great nation in the Information Age."
McSlarrow has led NCTA since '05. He also served as deputy secretary of the Dept. of Energy, VP/political and government affairs for grassroots.com, national chair of the Quayle 2000 presidential campaign and aide to former Sens. Paul Coverdell, Bob Dole and Trent Lott.
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