Lowell Mcadam

Former Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Verizon

Search every verified Lowell Mcadam interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. In a 2017 conversation, Lowell McAdam discussed Verizon's strategy for 5G deployment, describing a plan to use fiber to a neighborhood node and then broadcast wirelessly to homes, which he said would be cheaper than running fiber directly to each residence. He also addressed the digital divide, stating that Verizon's Innovative Learning schools program provides connectivity, laptops, and teacher training, and he reported a 60% improvement in test scores at participating schools. McAdam expressed frustration with the economics of the telecom industry, noting that while Verizon invested in network infrastructure, companies like Google and Facebook profited. He said Verizon was investing in content assets such as Yahoo and AOL under the Oath brand to create alternatives. On regulation, he stated that he was not a fan of regulation but advocated for a level playing field where all internet ecosystem participants are regulated equally. He also discussed municipal fees for antenna placement, citing examples of cities that either made deployment unaffordable or worked collaboratively. For rural areas, he suggested a government-subsidized model where one carrier builds infrastructure for shared use.