William McGowan: Telecommunications Pioneer
William McGowan was a telecommunications pioneer who founded the business telecom giant MCI Communications Corporation. He was the driving force behind the introduction of digital fiber-optic networks and the invention of the first toll-free ‘800’ number. Through his construction of major fiber-optic lines, he dramatically changed the nature of U.S. telecommunications and laid the groundwork for today’s telecom industry.
Early Years
William McGowan was born on November 23, 1938, in Chicago, Illinois. He attended St. George High School on the city’s South Side, where he demonstrated his natural aptitude for business and economics. After graduating in 1956, he went on to study economics and accounting at the University of Chicago.
Career in Telecommunications
After completing his studies at the University of Chicago, William McGowan began working in the telecommunications industry. He first served as an executive at Continental Telephone, an American telephone company. In 1968, McGowan joined the Microwave Communications Inc. (MCI), a venture launched by the prominent businessman Jack Goeken, as an executive and quickly moved up the ranks into a position on the board of directors. A year later, McGowan became the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of MCI Communications Corporation, a corporation he founded to provide long-distance services to the public.
Fiber-optic Technology
Under William McGowan’s leadership, the development of long-distance telecommunications rapidly advanced. He took MCI public in 1971 and quickly leveraged his resources to build an underground network of high-capacity digital fiber-optic lines. With these lines to transmit long-distance calls, McGowan was able to cut the costs of long-distance calls and create telecommunication services available to the public for the first time.
First Toll-Free ‘800’ Number
With his extended network of fiber-optic lines, McGowan was able to develop the first toll-free ‘800’ number system, which became the standard even today. Toll-free callers could call the number, and their call would traverse MCI’s link of fiber-optic lines and point-to-point microwave links across the U.S. to their destination. This was the first time in U.S. history that this kind of call-routing was available.
Opening of MCI Headquarters
In 1978, after a ten-year period of rapid and successful development, the MCI WorldCom headquarters opened in Washington, D.C. It was a symbol of MCI’s success in the telecommunications industry and a marker for William McGowan’s years of hard work.
Settlement of ‘Break-Up’ Suit Against AT&T
William McGowan led a landmark anti-trust lawsuit on behalf of MCI as a test case against AT&T in 1974. This was one of the most complex and longest antitrust cases in United States history, with the resulting verdict forcing AT&T to end its monopoly on long-distance services. This victory paved the way for the introduction of the competitive long-distance market in the U.S. and opened the door for other telecom companies to enter the market.
Achievements and Legacy
William McGowan was one of the pioneers of the modern telecommunications industry. He transformed the telecommunications infrastructure in the U.S. with his introduction of digital fiber-optic lines and the development of the ‘800’ number system. He was also the driving force behind MCI’s landmark anti-trust case against AT&T, which opened the door for competition among telecom providers and led to lower charges for long-distance calls for consumers.
McGowan was the recipient of numerous awards for his work in the telecommunications industry, including the Outstanding Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the Ernst & Young. He was also inducted into the Telecommunications Hall of Fame in 1994.
William McGowan passed away in 1992 at the age of 53 in Tampa, Florida. He left behind a lasting legacy of innovation that changed the course of telecommunications in the U.S.
William McGowan was a force of nature in the telecommunications industry who left behind a lasting legacy of innovation. His visionary development of digital fiber-optic lines, along with his concept for the toll-free ‘800’ number system, revolutionized the industry and have become standard procedures in the modern U.S. telecom industry. McGowan’s leadership of MCI’s landmark anti-trust case against AT&T opened the door for competition in the long-distance market, paving the way for lower charges for long-distance calls for consumers. William McGowan will be remembered for many years to come as a pioneer of the telecommunications industry.
