Robert M. McDowell

Robert M. McDowell: After nearly seven years of carrying out the incredibly high honor of serving the American people at the FCC, it is time to turn more of my energies towards an even higher calling: serving my family. After a great deal of deliberation, I have decided that I will step down as a commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission in a few weeks.

Today’s announcement is not a farewell. As you know, I don’t do well with those, so let’s avoid all of that for now and tackle that challenge another day. I will also save most of my expressions of appreciation for a later date. But I would be remiss if I didn’t offer up some of the bigger thank-yous right away, such as to: God, my parents, my beautiful bride Jennifer, our three amazing children, as well as our large family-at-large, friends, all of my colleagues on the Commission – both past and present, and the talented and dedicated public servants throughout the FCC, especially all of the wonderful and tireless professionals who have worked on my team in my office. Please keep in mind that trying to make me look good day after day as we fought for freedom must have been quite a challenge for them.

I would also like to thank the individuals who literally handed me this job, twice: first and foremost, Senator Ted Stevens, President George W. Bush, Senator Mitch McConnell and President Barack Obama, as well as many Members of Congress. Thank you for placing such enormous trust in me.

Again, this is not a time for farewells, I’m just announcing my plans to step down sometime soon. So what am I doing next? I will be talking to the FCC’s Chief Ethics Officer, Patrick J. Carney, to make sure that my departure is in full compliance with the letter and spirit of all of our ethics rules. Beyond that, I have no plans other than to take my family on a much-needed vacation starting this weekend.

So until the farewells, as always, may God bless each of you and our great nation.

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said, ““Rob McDowell has been an extraordinary colleague – deeply knowledgeable about the vital and growing communications and tech sector, creative, wise, and a great partner on the Commission. “Rob has been essential to major FCC achievements like the landmark reform of universal service and intercarrier compensation, and many steps to unleash spectrum.

“Rob’s thoughtful engagement in Commission policy has always improved the quality of our work.

“I’ve worked with Rob from the very first day of my tenure, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working together. I’m proud that Rob is both a colleague and a friend. And I have no doubt he’ll build on his tremendous experience and continue his long record of success.”

Upon learning of McDowell’s impending departure, Commissioner Ajit Pai said, “For over six years, Robert M. McDowell has served on the Federal Communications Commission with honor and distinction. He has championed innovation, promoted competition, and focused on boosting private investment in the communications industry. Rob was among the first to sound the alarm about international threats to Internet freedom, and his leadership has been critical to forging a broad, bipartisan consensus on this issue.

“On a personal level, I will always be grateful to Rob for the kindness he showed me during my first months in office. I am proud to call him a friend as well as a colleague. He has shown that it is possible to take the Commission’s work very seriously without taking ourselves too seriously.

“Whatever path Rob chooses to take next, I have no doubt that he will continue to achieve great success and to contribute positively to our country. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”

Commissioner Rosenworcel said, “I have worked with Commissioner McDowell in my current role for less than a year, but I have counted him as a friend for much longer than that. Rob is a smart, insightful, and deeply knowledgeable public servant. He is also a problem solver who cares deeply for this agency and its staff. We may not have always had the same perspective on every issue, but we were always able to work together—and our policies are better for it. But more important than being a terrific colleague, he has been a trusted and loyal friend. He will be missed.”