William mc gowan

William McGowanWilliam McGowan

By Matthew, HumphreyBy Matthew, Humphrey

AboutAbout

UNDER MCGOWAN'S LEADERSHIP, MCI UNDER MCGOWAN'S LEADERSHIP, MCI CHALLENGED THE MONOPOLY OF THE CHALLENGED THE MONOPOLY OF THE GIANT AMERICAN TELEPHONE & GIANT AMERICAN TELEPHONE & TELEGRAPH CO. IN A LAWSUIT THAT TELEGRAPH CO. IN A LAWSUIT THAT LED ULTIMATELY TO THE BREAKUP OF LED ULTIMATELY TO THE BREAKUP OF AT&T IN 1984.AT&T IN 1984.

AboutAbout

"HE HELPED BUILD ONE OF THE WORLD'S "HE HELPED BUILD ONE OF THE WORLD'S LEADING LONG-DISTANCE COMPANIES," LEADING LONG-DISTANCE COMPANIES," SAID THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FEDERAL SAID THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION, ALFRED COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION, ALFRED SIKES. "HE HELPED PROVIDE MILLIONS OF SIKES. "HE HELPED PROVIDE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS MORE CHOICES AT LOWER AMERICANS MORE CHOICES AT LOWER PRICES. AND FOR NEARLY THREE DECADES PRICES. AND FOR NEARLY THREE DECADES HE CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATED THAT HE CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATED THAT BREADTH OF IMAGINATION NEEDED TO BREADTH OF IMAGINATION NEEDED TO CONTEMPLATE AND ACHIEVE GREAT CONTEMPLATE AND ACHIEVE GREAT THINGS."THINGS."

"HE HELPED BUILD ONE OF THE WORLD'S "HE HELPED BUILD ONE OF THE WORLD'S LEADING LONG-DISTANCE COMPANIES," LEADING LONG-DISTANCE COMPANIES," SAID THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FEDERAL SAID THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION, ALFRED COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION, ALFRED SIKES. "HE HELPED PROVIDE MILLIONS OF SIKES. "HE HELPED PROVIDE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS MORE CHOICES AT LOWER AMERICANS MORE CHOICES AT LOWER PRICES. AND FOR NEARLY THREE DECADES PRICES. AND FOR NEARLY THREE DECADES HE CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATED THAT HE CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATED THAT BREADTH OF IMAGINATION NEEDED TO BREADTH OF IMAGINATION NEEDED TO CONTEMPLATE AND ACHIEVE GREAT CONTEMPLATE AND ACHIEVE GREAT THINGS."THINGS."

AboutAbout

He was born in the small coal mining and He was born in the small coal mining and railroad town of Ashley, Pennsylvania. After railroad town of Ashley, Pennsylvania. After serving in the U.S. Army, he attended Kings serving in the U.S. Army, he attended Kings College in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania and College in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania and then received an MBA from Harvard then received an MBA from Harvard University. McGowan joined MCI in 1968 and University. McGowan joined MCI in 1968 and immediately pushed for the company to go immediately pushed for the company to go nationwide with microwave nationwide with microwave telecommunications services at low prices. telecommunications services at low prices.

various resourcesvarious resources

MCGOWAN TOOK THAT DISCONTENT MCGOWAN TOOK THAT DISCONTENT AND BUILT IT INTO A LANDMARK AND BUILT IT INTO A LANDMARK ANTITRUST CASE AGAINST AT&T.ANTITRUST CASE AGAINST AT&T.


AT THE FCC, IN THE COURTS AND IN AT THE FCC, IN THE COURTS AND IN CONGRESS, MCGOWAN ACCUSED CONGRESS, MCGOWAN ACCUSED AT&T OF ABUSING ITS MONOPOLY AT&T OF ABUSING ITS MONOPOLY POWER, STIFLING COMPETITION AND POWER, STIFLING COMPETITION AND HARMING CONSUMERS.HARMING CONSUMERS.


AT&T FOUGHT BACK FOR 16 YEARS, AT&T FOUGHT BACK FOR 16 YEARS, FINALLY AGREEING TO DIVESTITURE FINALLY AGREEING TO DIVESTITURE UNDER PRESSURE FROM LAWSUITS BY UNDER PRESSURE FROM LAWSUITS BY MCI AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.MCI AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

Change maker Change maker

McGowan was already a multimillionaire McGowan was already a multimillionaire when he decided to go head-to-head with when he decided to go head-to-head with AT&T. He'd spent nearly 10 years on Wall AT&T. He'd spent nearly 10 years on Wall Street as an independent financial consultant Street as an independent financial consultant specializing in the reorganization and specializing in the reorganization and turnaround of failing companies. His most turnaround of failing companies. His most notable success was Powertron Co., which he notable success was Powertron Co., which he took over for $25,000 in 1959 and sold for $3 took over for $25,000 in 1959 and sold for $3 million in 1962. million in 1962.

Change makerChange maker

During his 24-year tenure as head of MCI, William During his 24-year tenure as head of MCI, William McGowan grew MCI from a nearly defunct mobile McGowan grew MCI from a nearly defunct mobile radio service to a $9.5 billion telecommunications radio service to a $9.5 billion telecommunications juggernaut. Today, the company he founded, now juggernaut. Today, the company he founded, now called MCI WorldCom, is the largest called MCI WorldCom, is the largest telecommunications company in the world, with in the world, with annual earnings of $17.6 billion. But his real legacy is annual earnings of $17.6 billion. But his real legacy is that more than any other individual, McGowan that more than any other individual, McGowan brought about the breakup of AT&T and sparked a brought about the breakup of AT&T and sparked a telecommunications revolution.telecommunications revolution.

During his 24-year tenure as head of MCI, William During his 24-year tenure as head of MCI, William McGowan grew MCI from a nearly defunct mobile McGowan grew MCI from a nearly defunct mobile radio service to a $9.5 billion telecommunications radio service to a $9.5 billion telecommunications juggernaut. Today, the company he founded, now juggernaut. Today, the company he founded, now called MCI WorldCom, is the largest called MCI WorldCom, is the largest telecommunications company in the world, with in the world, with annual earnings of $17.6 billion. But his real legacy is annual earnings of $17.6 billion. But his real legacy is that more than any other individual, McGowan that more than any other individual, McGowan brought about the breakup of AT&T and sparked a brought about the breakup of AT&T and sparked a telecommunications revolution.telecommunications revolution.

Change makerChange maker Spurred on by McGowan, MCI management Spurred on by McGowan, MCI management

improved quality and service, and pushed for improved quality and service, and pushed for more corporate customers. MCI also digitized more corporate customers. MCI also digitized its phone network, allowing for faster its phone network, allowing for faster transmission of both voice and data. The transmission of both voice and data. The company quickly gained a reputation for company quickly gained a reputation for excellent service and soon boasted the excellent service and soon boasted the Pentagon, Westinghouse, Chrysler and IBM Pentagon, Westinghouse, Chrysler and IBM among its corporate customers. MCI returned to among its corporate customers. MCI returned to profitability in 1987, and by late 1991 had profitability in 1987, and by late 1991 had regained its position as the nation's second-regained its position as the nation's second-largest long-distance carrier. largest long-distance carrier.

PicPic "The meek shall inherit the earth, but they'll never increase "The meek shall inherit the earth, but they'll never increase

market share."-market share."-William G. McGowanWilliam G. McGowan

sources sources

http://www.inc.com/magazine/19860http://www.inc.com/magazine/19860801/7086.html801/7086.html

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/197672197672

http://digital.hagley.org/cdm4/index_http://digital.hagley.org/cdm4/index_p268001coll28.php?CISOROOT=/p26p268001coll28.php?CISOROOT=/p268001coll288001coll28



http://digital.hagley.org/cdm4/index_http://digital.hagley.org/cdm4/index_p268001coll28.php?CISOROOT=/p26p268001coll28.php?CISOROOT=/p268001coll288001coll28



http://digital.hagley.org/cdm4/http://digital.hagley.org/cdm4/index_p268001coll28.php?index_p268001coll28.php?CISOROOT=/p268001coll28CISOROOT=/p268001coll28

http://www.inc.com/magazine/http://www.inc.com/magazine/19860801/7086.html19860801/7086.html

http://www.entrepreneur.com/http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/197672article/197672

http://digital.hagley.org/cdm4/http://digital.hagley.org/cdm4/index_p268001coll28.php?index_p268001coll28.php?CISOROOT=/p268001coll28CISOROOT=/p268001coll28

Education

William mc gowan