Colin Crowell

Colin Crowell (born 1965) is an American public policy expert in the telecommunications and Internet sector. He is the former Vice President of Global Public Policy and Philanthropy at Twitter. Crowell was the company's first public policy hire, brought on board to build out this function globally for the company.[1] Prior to Twitter, Crowell worked for over two decades for then-Congressman, now Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.). Senator Markey is the former House Chairman of the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet of the House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce. From 2009 to 2010, Crowell served as Senior Counselor to Julius Genachowski, the Chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Crowell was the 2020 Commencement Speaker,[2][3] at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin on the occasion of the LBJ School’s 50th Anniversary.

Crowell has been profiled in The Washington Post,[4] and has been quoted widely regarding technology and telecommunications policy.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]

He has been called "one of the most influential tech policy operatives you've never heard of" whose "fingerprints are all over some of the biggest technology and telecommunications statutes of the last two decades";[4] "an influential expert in the politics and policy of technology";[13] "a walking encyclopedia on the arcane details of tech and telecom statutes";[4] with “an unrivaled understanding of telecommunications law and history”[14] and knowledge of "telecommunications and Congress unrivaled in Washington."[15]

Crowell was a key participant in drafting the Telecommunications Act of 1996, [4] a landmark law that established key elements of the foundational framework for Internet policy in the U.S., including Section 230 and the E-rate provision. He is also considered to be "a major architect of the FCC's national broadband plan."[16][4] In lawmaking, he was considered "a leading figure in… developing compromise,"[17] and an advocate for consumers and the public interest.[18][15][4]

FCC Chairman Genachowski said: "No government staffer has done more to positively shape federal telecommunications policy over the past 25 years."[19] Genachowski called Crowell "indispensable to every key decision we've made," possessing a "rare combination of policy smarts, wise counsel, and communications expertise." [19]

Crowell speaks widely on high technology policy. Among other speaking engagements, Crowell has presented at the Oslo Freedom Forum,[20] appeared on the Roda Viva television show in Brazil,[21] and joined the "AMDG: A Jesuit Podcast" for a discussion on how his Jesuit education influenced his approach to social media.[22]

Crowell graduated from Boston College in 1986 with a BA in Political Science and a minor in Computer Science. He also served as a Jesuit International Volunteer upon graduation, teaching at a Jesuit school - Colegio San José, Arequipa, Peru - and working at a community soup kitchen.[23]