Kevin Martin (FCC)

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Kevin J. Martin

Kevin Jeffrey Martin (born December 14, 1966 in Charlotte, North Carolina, raised in Weddington, North Carolina), is 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.

Before becoming a commissioner, Martin was a Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy. He has also served on the Bush-Cheney election team in Florida and the transition team.

Prior to becoming part of the Bush campaign, he was an advisor to FCC Commissioner Harold Furchtgott-Roth. He also worked in the Office of the Independent Counsel.

Martin worked several years for Wiley Rein & Fielding, "Rated Top Telecommunications Lobbyists" according to an article on their website. The firm represents the Bells as well as Viacom/CBS, Gannett, Belo, Emmis, Gray Television, and Motorola.

Before that, he served as a judicial clerk for Judge William M. Hoeveler of the U.S. District Court for the Sourthern District of Florida in Miami.

Martin has a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (where he was elected Student Body President), a Master's degree in Public Policy 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.

On March 16, 2005, President Bush promoted him to FCC chairman, to replace Michael K. Powell. Martin does not have to be confirmed, since he already was in 2001. Chairman Martin is married to Catherine Jurgensmeyer Martin, who used to work for Vice President Dick Cheney as an advisor. She now works for President Bush on economic and other policies, as Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy White House Communications Director for Policy and Planning. Kevin and Catherine reside in Washington, D.C.

[edit] Trivia

In the South Park episode "Best Friends Forever," when Satan kills the Gríma-esque demon Kevin, he appears as Martin for a few frames as he lies dead; it is almost unnoticeable without putting the scene in slow motion or looking at it frame-by-frame.