Former FCC Chairman Powell Named as Cable Association Chief

WASHINGTON, March 16, 2011 – The National Cable and Telecommunications Association named former Federal Communications Commission Chairman, Michael Powell, as its new president and CEO Tuesday.

President Bill Clinton appointed Powell to FCC in 1997 and he was later named Chairman of the Commission by President George W. Bush in January, 2001, a post he served until his resignation in 2005.

Powell later accepted a positions as senior advisor with Providence Equity Partners and as Honorary Co-Chair of Broadband for America.  He will replace outgoing president and CEO, Kyle McSlarrow, who has accepted the top post in the Washington, D.C. office of the newly-merged Comcast-NBC Universal.  Powell is set to begin at NCTA on April 25.

“Michael’s exemplary record of leadership, deep commitment to public service, and vast insight into public policy make him an ideal fit to lead our industry in Washington, D.C., as we address the regulatory challenges that lie ahead and continue to help policy makers understand cable’s commitment to jobs, investment, and innovation,” said Patrick J. Esser, Chair of the NCTA Board of Directors.