Partner, Cooley

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Rob McDowell is chair of Cooley's global communications practice group, advising telecommunications, media, and technology clients, including private equity funds, on critical regulatory, legal, and business matters. A former FCC commissioner appointed by Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, he was unanimously confirmed by the Senate both times. During his tenure, Rob expanded consumer access to spectrum, played a key role in the 2009 digital TV transition, and established a federal ban on racially discriminatory broadcast advertising practices. He also worked on major mergers like Sirius/XM, Comcast/NBC-Universal, and Verizon/AllTel. At Cooley, he represents clients on transformative deals before the FCC, Congress, and other regulatory bodies. An advocate for internet freedom, Rob served on the US delegation to the 2012 World Conference on International Telecommunications, successfully opposing international internet regulation.