Yesterday I spent five hours with outgoing FCC Chairman Michael Powell. this guy knows his stuff.
i don't think i am out of line by saying that Chairman Powell understands technology better than any other government official -- elected or otherwise. he understands where technology is going and the strains and benefits it will bestow on our society. Powell is also incredible articulate, candid, and thoughtful -- another rarity in Washington.
Yesterday I saw him in three different settings. One was a private meeting with the top venture capitalists in Silicon Valley. The second was a meeting with the CEOs of some of the foremost technology companies. The third was a large evening reception where hundreds of Silicon Valley execs came to hear Powell discuss his views on the industry.
In all the meetings, Powell was incredibly charismatic, intelligent, and extremely engaging. Even people who were predisposed to be his critics were incredibly effusive after meeting him.
When Powell leaves the FCC at the end of this month, the government will lose one of its finest public servants (it lost another amazing person last month when his father also left government employ). Michael Powell is young and has a large opportunity ahead of him. He'll probably go into the private sector and help grow the tech economy from the inside. But I hope he doesn't stay away from the public eye -- Powell is an incredible advocate of technology.
And I, for one, will be the first one on line to support Powell if he chooses to go back into public life by running for a Virginia US Senate seat or Governor.
Spme pics at: http://summation.typepad.com/photos/politics/
