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USTelecom Promotes Mayer to SVP Cybersecurity
USTelecom has promoted Robert Mayer to Senior Vice President, Cybersecurity. The organization is a trade association representing service broadband providers and suppliers.
USTelecom President/CEO Jonathan Spalter characterized Mayer as “a respected convener and advocate in the cybersecurity community.” He “brings a depth of expertise and conviction that serves not only our members, but the hundreds of millions of customers they serve,” said Spalter.
Mayer has been with the association for more than 10 years with responsibility for leading cyber and national security policy and coordinating various regulatory initiatives for the broadband industry. He chairs the Communications Sector Coordinating Council at the Department of Homeland Security’s public-private partnership on national security and emergency preparedness. Mayer also co-leads the Multi-Association Framework Development Initiative that represents 30-plus U.S trade associations on cybersecurity risk management policy issues and regularly engages with top government leaders on cyber policy.
In June 2015, Mayer was appointed to the FCC Communications Security Reliability and Interoperability Council after having led a 100 person team of cybersecurity professionals that produced a landmark report to adapt the NIST Cybersecurity Framework to five industry segments within the sector. Prior to USTelecom, Mayer was the top telecommunications official for New York State as Telecom Director of the New York Public Service Commission.
Staff Picks for New FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr
Four people have been appointed to work in the office of new Republican FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr in an “acting” capacity. “They bring a breadth of private and public sector experience and a deep understanding of the FCC and communications policy,” he said. “With their help, we can get to work immediately on delivering results for the American public.”
Kevin Holmes is Acting Legal Advisor for wireless and public safety. He comes from the FCC’s Office of Legislative Affairs, where he worked on spectrum, mobile broadband, and public safety issues. Previously, Holmes worked in the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, both as an interim Legal Advisor in the Office of the Bureau Chief and as an Attorney Advisor in the Broadband Division.
Nathan Eagan has been appointed Acting Wireline Legal Advisor. He joins the office from the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau, where he was a Legal Advisor in the Telecommunications Access Policy Division.
Nirali Patel is Acting Legal Advisor for media, consumer protection, and enforcement. She comes from the Wireline Competition Bureau, where she’s been a Deputy Chief of the Competition Policy Division. Finally, Natalie Martinez is Carr’s Acting Confidential Assistant. She’s held this role for the past three years for three successive FCC General Counsels.
New FCC Acting General Counsel Named
Once Brendan Carr officially became an FCC Commissioner, Chairman Ajit Pai needed to find another General Counsel. He named Jennifer Tatel to the position yesterday in an acting capacity.
“Jennifer is known for her legal acumen, FCC expertise, and careful judgment—qualities that have served the Commission well as she has assumed various leadership positions,” said Chairman Pai. “I thank her for agreeing to take on this new role and am confident that with her appointment, the Office of General Counsel is in good hands.”
Since 2011, Tatel has worked in the Office of General Counsel, most recently as chief of staff and deputy general counsel. Prior, she was a legal advisor to Commissioner Meredith Attwell Baker, counseling her on media and consumer protection issues.
Wireless Telecom Group Names Daniel Monopoli As CTO
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc. (NYSE MKT:WTT), which provides high-performance RF infrastructure and test and measurement solutions for wireless and advanced communications, announced that Daniel Monopoli has been promoted to the position of Chief Technology Officer. Monopoli joined Wireless Telecom Group in September 2015, as the General Manager of the Test & Measurement segment, overseeing the Boonton Electronics and Noisecom businesses.
As CTO, Daniel will be responsible for product development, product management and marketing across the Wireless Telecom Group segments. He will lead and innovate the go-to-market strategy, R&D process and product roadmap while driving activities in line with a commitment to engineering quality, performance excellence and product innovation.
“Since joining Wireless Telecom Group as General Manager of Test & Measurement, Dan has reinvigorated the product roadmap, initiated exciting product investments, improved our sales channel, launched new products to attack new markets, and demonstrated his leadership capabilities,” said Wireless Telecom Group CEO Tim Whelan.
Justin Marron Joins Strategic Venue Partners as CEO
Strategic Venue Partners Inc. (SVP), a provider of wireless infrastructure investment and services for enterprise real-estate venues, has named Justin Marron as CEO.
Marron has an 18-year track-record of infrastructure development in the fields of corporate finance, wireless infrastructure operations and renewable energy development. He has held senior management and ownership positions at Altus Power America, Wind Farm Capital and Wireless Capital Partners.
Marron joins the existing executive team, COO Rich Grimes and CFO Chad Aaron. Tiger Infrastructure Partners LP is the company’s financial partner.
In Passing
Christopher Puricelli: Co-Owner, St. Charles Tower Company 1960 – 2017
A statement issued Friday by St. Charles Tower Company to Inside Towers:
“On June 17th, 2017 Christopher Puricelli’s life came to an end after his two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. His will for life was strong and he never complained about the cards he was dealt. He always surrounded himself with close friends and family. As many people know, he was pioneer in the industry and has built hundreds of towers all over the United States. He worked for AT&T here in St. Louis during the initial build out. This is where he learned and perfected his craft in leasing and zoning. After AT&T’s launch, he then moved to Bechtel which took him to California; this is where he found his love for boating. He met Bob Bell, his partner while working for AT&T and in 2000 Chris and Bob formed St. Charles Tower.”
“For the past 17 years, St. Charles Tower has developed and owns many towers all over the United States. As Co-owner of St. Charles Tower, Chris led in such a way that he exemplified leadership, energy, commitment, and inspiration to his staff and to others with whom he worked. Chris enjoyed the travel and the camaraderie he had with all his counterparts in the wireless industry. We all have had so many great times with Chris and I’m sure we can speak for everyone in the industry that anywhere Chris was, there would always be a great time. He is missed dearly and his love of the industry has reinforced St. Charles Tower’s dedication to continue on in his honor,” the statement from the staff at Saint Charles Tower stated.
Chris is survived by his wife Karen and his two children Paige and Dylan.
Donations can be made to the Marc Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research.
Kevin Dougherty Joins NATE Executive Committee
Kevin Dougherty was elected to serve in the position of Secretary/Treasurer on the Executive Committee of the National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE). Dougherty is the CEO of Millennia Contracting, Inc. in New Castle, DE, and has been a member of the NATE Board of Directors for two years. He has fulfilled a variety of other leadership roles during his tenure with NATE, including service on the OSHA Relations Committee and STAR Initiative Ad-Hoc Committee.
“I am both excited and honored to serve the Association in this new leadership capacity,” Dougherty said. “NATE’s mission of enhancing safety, standards and education is near and dear to my heart and I look forward to continuing to take this message to the industry in my new position on the Executive Committee,” he said.
FCC Has A Chief Economist
George Mason University senior research fellow Dr. Jerry Ellig is now the chief economist at the FCC. The Commission has been working to create an Office of Economics and Data to provide economic analysis for rulemakings, transactions, and auctions; manage the commission’s data resources; and conduct longer-term research on ways to improve the commission’s policies. Ellig will assist the agency in creating the new office.
Ellig will “lend his talents to the FCC as we continue to integrate economic analysis into our decision-making and create an agency culture that supports big-picture economic thinking once again,” said Chairman Ajit Pai in making the announcement about the posting. Pai cited Ellig’s record of “distinguished scholarship and prior government service” that “makes him the right person for this job.”
Currently, Dr. Ellig’s work focuses on the role of economic analysis in the U.S. regulatory process, competition policy in telecommunications, broadband and electronic commerce, and performance management in government agencies. Most recently, he published a series of papers that assess the quality and use of regulatory impact analysis in both executive branch and independent agencies. These papers identify best practices, shortcomings, and reasons for variation in the quality of agencies’ analysis.
He’s been with George Mason University since 1996; previously, Ellig was deputy director of the Office of Policy Planning at the Federal Trade Commission (2001-03) and a senior economist at the Joint Economic Committee of the U.S. Congress (1995-96).
New Chief of FCC Office of Strategic Planning & Policy Named
Wayne Leighton has been promoted to chief of the FCC’s Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis, continuing the work he has been doing as acting chief. In this role, he will help the Commission establish its future Office of Economics and Data as well as develop strategic plans and provide analysis and advice regarding complex, novel communications issues. The office includes numerous economists, engineers, and policy experts working on various projects for the agency.
Leighton has telecom experience; prior to serving as acting chief of the Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis, he was a senior economist in the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and served as wireless advisor to then-FCC Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate. Before coming to the FCC, Leighton worked for an economic consulting firm, was senior economist with the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and has been a professor of economics at Universidad Francisco Marroquín in Guatemala.
Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee Grows
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has appointed Andy Huckaba to the Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee (BDAC). Huckaba will represent the City of Lenexa, KS, where he is a member of the City Council. Huckaba is also Vice-Chair of the FCC’s Intergovernmental Advisory Committee.
FCC Chairman to Appoint New Enforcement Bureau Chief
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai announced that he intends to appoint Rosemary C. Harold to serve as chief of the Enforcement Bureau. Michael Carowitz, who has been serving as acting bureau chief, will become the Bureau’s deputy chief. Harold is an attorney with experience within the FCC agency and in private practice; she’s also a former journalist.
“This agency has a critical role to play in enforcing the law to protect consumers and support competition in the communications marketplace,” Pai said. “Our Enforcement Bureau has been getting back on track in recent months, and I am confident in Rosemary’s ability to continue this progress.”
Pai also praised Carowitz’s work as acting chief. “Michael’s steady hand at the helm of this important Bureau has helped us stay on task in protecting consumers and enforcing the law,” he said.
The Enforcement Bureau is charged with enforcing the Communications Act, FCC rules, and various licensing terms and conditions. It also investigates instances of possible unlawful conduct involving the regulated RF spectrum.
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