Mr. McDowell, former commissioner and senior member of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), has been an industry and government leader on a multitude of complex issues in the communications field throughout his career.  A partner in the Communications Practice at Wiley Rein LLP, he provides strategic legal, business, and public policy advice to clients on important domestic and international matters in the telecommunications, media, technology, and digital media industries. Appointed to the FCC by presidents George W. Bush (2006) and Barack Obama (2009) and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate each time, Mr. McDowell was the first Republican appointed to an independent agency by President Obama. During his seven years as one of five FCC commissioners, he spearheaded the production of policies that directly affected all aspects of the Internet, wireless technologies, broadband competition, and communications equipment and devices, as well as radio and satellite services. Mr. McDowell also has 16 years of private sector experience in the communications industry.  He is currently a senior advisor at Berenson & Co. and a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute’s Center for the Economics of the Internet.  Mr. McDowell received his J.D. from the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary.