Kevin Martin (FCC)
Encyclopedia
Kevin Jeffrey Martin was the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission
. He was nominated to be a commissioner by President
George W. Bush
on April 30, 2001, and was confirmed on May 25, 2001. On March 16, 2005, President Bush designated him as FCC chairman, to replace Michael K. Powell. President Bush renominated Martin to a new five year term on the Commission on April 25, 2006, and he was reconfirmed by the U.S. Senate
on November 17, 2006. In January 2009, Martin announced that he would step down from the FCC and join the Aspen Institute
, as a senior fellow in the think tank
's Communications and Society Program. He has since become a partner with the law firm Patton Boggs LLP.
team in Florida
, and on the presidential transition team.
Before joining Bush-Cheney 2000, Martin served as legal advisor to FCC Commissioner Harold Furchtgott-Roth, in the Office of the Independent Counsel, and as an associate of Wiley Rein LLP. One of Wiley Rein's most important clients is Verizon (http://www.wileyrein.com/news_release.cfm?press_release_id=1225, http://www.wileyrein.com/news_release.cfm?press_release_id=1318, http://www.wileyrein.com/practice.cfm?practice_id=29).
Upon graduation from law school, Martin served as a judicial clerk for Judge William M. Hoeveler of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
in Miami.
for four years. He earned a B.A.
from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
(where he was elected student body president), an M.P.P.
from Duke University
, and a J.D.
from Harvard Law School
. He is a member of the Florida Bar, District of Columbia Bar and the Federal Communications Bar Association
.
Chairman Martin married a Harvard law school classmate, Catherine J. Martin (Cathie). Following law school, Cathie practiced law as an associate of Steptoe & Johnson in Washington, and then held the following positions in public service: Counselor to then Texas Attorney General John Cornyn; Deputy Chief of Staff for Secretary Donald L. Evans at the U.S. Department of Commerce; Counselor to Vice President
Dick Cheney
, and Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy at the National Economic Council. She currently serves as Deputy Assistant to the President for Communications (Policy and Planning). Kevin and Cathie reside in Washington, D.C.
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
. He was nominated to be a commissioner by President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
on April 30, 2001, and was confirmed on May 25, 2001. On March 16, 2005, President Bush designated him as FCC chairman, to replace Michael K. Powell. President Bush renominated Martin to a new five year term on the Commission on April 25, 2006, and he was reconfirmed by the U.S. Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on November 17, 2006. In January 2009, Martin announced that he would step down from the FCC and join the Aspen Institute
Aspen Institute
The Aspen Institute is an international nonprofit organization founded in 1950 as the Aspen Institute of Humanistic Studies. The organization is dedicated to "fostering enlightened leadership, the appreciation of timeless ideas and values, and open-minded dialogue on contemporary issues." The...
, as a senior fellow in the think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
's Communications and Society Program. He has since become a partner with the law firm Patton Boggs LLP.
Prior offices
Before becoming a commissioner, Martin was a Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy. He has also served as the Deputy General Counsel to Bush-Cheney 2000, on the Bush-Cheney recountFlorida election recount
The Florida election recount of 2000 was a period of vote re-counting that occurred following the unclear results of the 2000 United States presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore, specifically the Florida results. The election was ultimately settled in favor of George W. Bush when...
team in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, and on the presidential transition team.
Before joining Bush-Cheney 2000, Martin served as legal advisor to FCC Commissioner Harold Furchtgott-Roth, in the Office of the Independent Counsel, and as an associate of Wiley Rein LLP. One of Wiley Rein's most important clients is Verizon (http://www.wileyrein.com/news_release.cfm?press_release_id=1225, http://www.wileyrein.com/news_release.cfm?press_release_id=1318, http://www.wileyrein.com/practice.cfm?practice_id=29).
Upon graduation from law school, Martin served as a judicial clerk for Judge William M. Hoeveler of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida is the federal United States district court with jurisdiction over the southern part of the state of Florida....
in Miami.
Education
Martin went to Charlotte Catholic High SchoolCharlotte Catholic High School
Charlotte Catholic is a diocesan high school in Charlotte, North Carolina founded in 1955. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte.-Athletics:...
for four years. He earned a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
(where he was elected student body president), an M.P.P.
Master of Public Policy
The Master of Public Policy , one of several public policy degrees, is a master's level professional degree that provides training in policy analysis and program evaluation at public policy schools. The MPP program places a focus on the systematic analysis of issues related to public policy and the...
from Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
, and a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
. He is a member of the Florida Bar, District of Columbia Bar and the Federal Communications Bar Association
Federal Communications Bar Association
The Federal Communications Bar Association is the voluntary bar association for communications attorneys in the United States. Located in Washington, D.C., the FCBA focuses primarily on the regulatory agencies of the Federal Communications Commission and the state public utility...
.
Chairman Martin married a Harvard law school classmate, Catherine J. Martin (Cathie). Following law school, Cathie practiced law as an associate of Steptoe & Johnson in Washington, and then held the following positions in public service: Counselor to then Texas Attorney General John Cornyn; Deputy Chief of Staff for Secretary Donald L. Evans at the U.S. Department of Commerce; Counselor to Vice President
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
Dick Cheney
Dick Cheney
Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States , under George W. Bush....
, and Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy at the National Economic Council. She currently serves as Deputy Assistant to the President for Communications (Policy and Planning). Kevin and Cathie reside in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....