On Tuesday, June 2, President Barack Obama announced that he will renominate current FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell for another term. McDowell, a Republican, was first nominated by President George W. Bush and sworn into office in June 2006, filling the unexpired term of Republican Kathleen Q. Abernathy. McDowell, whose present term expires June 30, 2009, would need to be confirmed by the Senate. Commissioners' terms are five years long.

According to the White House, McDowell has collaborated with his fellow Commissioners to develop and establish American communications policy covering the wireless, media and Internet industries, as well as international policy matters. 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.

McDowell brings to the FCC approximately 16 years of private sector experience in the communications industry. Immediately prior to joining the Commission, McDowell was a senior executive for a trade association representing competitive facilities-based telecommunications service providers. He has served on the North American Numbering Council (NANC) and on the Board of Directors of North American Numbering Plan Billing and Collection (NBANC).

Acting Chairman Michael Copps congratulating McDowell on his renomination, saying he was "truly delighted that he will continue on as a fellow Commissioner. Since becoming Acting Chairman several months ago, I appreciate more than ever Rob's collegiality, his openness, his creative intellect, and the deep sense of purpose he brings to his work. I especially want to thank him for all the talent and energy he has brought to our work on next week's DTV transition. He has traveled near and far to help consumers prepare and he has done an outstanding job in helping us deploy an extensive DTV Call Center operation. I look forward to our continuing work together as we tackle the many tough communications issues confronting the Commission and the country."

McDowell was graduated cum laude from Duke University in 1985. After serving as chief legislative aide to a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, he attended the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary. Upon his graduation from law school, McDowell joined the Washington, DC office of Arter & Hadden, a national law firm, now closed, that was based in Cleveland. McDowell is admitted to practice law before the courts of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and the US Courts of Appeals for the District of Columbia, First, Fourth and Fifth Circuits, as well as the US Supreme Court. He lives in Fairfax County, Virginia on his family's farm with his wife Jennifer and their three children.