Electronic Recyclers International (ERI), the nation’s leading recycler of electronic waste, announced today that Kevin J. Martin, former Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), has been named to its Executive Board of Directors.
Martin is also a partner and co-chair of Patton Boggs’ technology and communications practice and brings nearly two decades experience as a lawyer and policymaker in the telecommunications field, including his tenure as FCC Chairman from March 2005 to January 2009 when the industry was undergoing a period of unprecedented growth and innovation.
While Martin was FCC Chairman, the Commission created a regulatory environment that encouraged infrastructure investment and broadband competition, leading to greater coverage and decreased prices for Americans. The number of broadband lines in the country doubled to more than 100 million. Under Martin’s leadership, the FCC conducted the two most successful and profitable spectrum auctions in U.S. history, raising almost $20 billion in 2008 alone. Martin also spearheaded the FCC’s initiative to dedicate more than $400 million to the construction of broadband networks for statewide and regional health care networks reaching more than 6,000 health care facilities.
As FCC Chairman, Martin also represented the U.S. in dozens of bilateral negotiations and addressed numerous international conferences as a global leader on telecommunications and technology policy.
“It’s exciting to be involved with ERI – an organization that, while already having set many of the innovation and policy standards in its industry, is still truly on the cusp of tremendous opportunity,” said Martin. “I’m looking forward to working with the existing team and collaborating to help take ERI to the next level.”
“We are extremely proud and excited to be adding Kevin to our Board at ERI,” said John Shegerian, Chairman and CEO of ERI. “His incredible blend of experience ranging from technological innovation to international relationships to domestic legislation, will be a tremendous asset and addition to our think tank.”
Before joining the FCC as a Commissioner in 2001, Martin was a Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and served on the staff of the National Economic Council, focusing on commerce and technology policy issues. He served as the official U.S. government representative to the G-8’s Digital Opportunity Task Force.