Michael J. Copps was sworn in as a member of the Federal Communications Commission on May 31, 2001, for a term that runs until June 30, 2005. Mr. Copps, a Democrat, was nominated by President George W. Bush on May 1, 2001, and confirmed by the Senate on May 25, 2001.

Mr. Copps served until January 2001 as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Trade Development at the U.S. Department of Commerce. In that role, Mr. Copps worked to improve market access and market share for nearly every sector of American industry, including information technologies, telecommunications, aerospace, automotive, environmental technologies, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, textiles, service industries, and tourism. Mr. Copps devoted much of his time to building private sector-public sector partnerships to enhance our nation’s success in the global economy.

From 1993 to 1998, Mr. Copps served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Basic Industries, a component of the Trade Development Unit.

Mr. Copps moved to Washington in 1970, joined the staff of Senator Fritz Hollings (D-SC) and served for over a dozen years as Administrative Assistant and Chief of Staff. From 1985 to 1989, he served as Director of Government Affairs for Collins and Aikman Corporation, a Fortune 500 Company. From 1989 to 1993, he was Senior Vice President for Legislative Affairs at a major national trade association, the American Meat Institute.

Mr. Copps, a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, received a B.A. from Wofford College and earned a Ph.D. in United States history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He taught US history at Loyola University of the South from 1967 to 1970.

Copps is married to the former Elizabeth Catherine Miller of New Orleans. They have five children and reside in Alexandria, VA.