Sometimes it can be a little tricky putting two execs from different organizations in the same slot. Not true with McKinney and Powell, who have a years-long mutual admiration for one another. Powell commands the policy side of the industry, while McKinney guides the technology. Both push for investment and innovation—which is felt inside and outside the industry. NTIA’s Institute for Telecommunication Sciences selected CableLabs for the second consecutive year as the host lab for its 5G Challenge. And Powell has made NCTA a thought leader for key telecom issues such as net neutrality and spectrum policy.
What’s your position on Stanley cups (not the NHL kind)? Overrated, but I have one!
What emerging industry trend are you most excited by? The industry’s insurgency in mobile has proven again that we have a tremendous consumer value proposition that will continue to grow. We can be the most seamless connectivity provider no matter where the consumer is.
My prediction for the $42 billion BEAD program: The BEAD program is already running into the headwinds of expectations versus reality and NTIA has unfortunately added some unnecessary requirements that discourage provider participation. The work to connect our most remote and rural areas is already hard enough without sprinkling in unrealistic political jellybeans that have nothing to do with the program’s mission. I fear that unless policymakers stay laser-focused on the significant challenges of building modern infrastructure in these extremely difficult regions, we will waste this historic opportunity in federal funding that we are likely never to see again.
Do you personally still have a traditional cable video package? Yes!