The 13th Americas Spectrum Management Conference took place on October 1-2, 2024 in Washington D.C. at the Washington Plaza Hotel.
Across 2 days attendees had the opportunity to be involved in discussions on the key spectrum topics for the Americas region and beyond, through interactive sessions, networking opportunities, an exhibition area and much more.
This event is part of The Global Spectrum Series. The world’s largest collection of regional spectrum policy conferences. Click on the images on the left to find out more about the series and to the event vlog from last year.
Hover over the image to find out more…
Launched in 2012, and now in its thirteenth year, The Americas Spectrum Management Conference takes place annually in Washington D.C., with the exception of fully virtual editions in 2020 and 2021.
Over 200 delegates joined 2 days of discussions in October 2023. Watch the event vlog below to find out more.
Forum Global is the international arm of Forum Europe, specialising in the organisation of policy-focused conferences on a global level.
Developed in partnership with businesses, institutions, regulators and governments throughout the world, our events provide a platform for stakeholders to engage in topical discussions, strengthen networks and establish new connections.
Since Forum Global’s inception in 2012, we have delivered over 35 major international conferences across North America, South America, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe.
We are tech policy specialists. We have launched international event initiatives focused on the Internet of Things and 5G, and are the creators of the world’s largest series of global conferences on wireless spectrum management issues – the Global Spectrum Series.
Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR) is a leading broadband connectivity company and cable operator serving more than 31 million customers in 41 states through its Spectrum brand. Over an advanced communications network, the company offers a full range of state-of-the-art residential and business services including Spectrum Internet®, TV, Mobile and Voice. For small and medium-sized companies, Spectrum Business® delivers the same suite of broadband products and services coupled with special features and applications to enhance productivity, while for larger businesses and government entities, Spectrum Enterprise provides highly customized, fiber-based solutions. Spectrum Reach® delivers tailored advertising and production for the modern media landscape. The company also distributes award-winning news coverage, sports and high-quality original programming to its customers through Spectrum Networks and Spectrum Originals.
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https://corporate.comcast.com/
CTIA represents the U.S. wireless communications industry. From carriers and equipment manufacturers to mobile app developers and content creators, we bring together a dynamic group of companies that enable consumers to lead a 21st Century connected life.As the voice of America’s wireless industry, CTIA:- Advocates for legislative and regulatory policies at federal, state, and local levels that foster the continued innovation, investment and increasing economic impact of America’s wireless industry. CTIA is active on a wide range of issues including spectrum policy, wireless infrastructure, and the Internet of Things, among others. – Convenes the industry to tackle our most difficult challenges and coordinates voluntary best practices and initiatives. CTIA works with members to develop test plans and certification processes for mobile devices, coordinates with members and other industry leaders to ensure the security of mobile networks and devices, and leads industry initiatives to enhance accessibility, improve 9-1-1 location accuracy, deter phone theft and encourage safe driving.- Promotes our members through numerous campaigns aimed at building awareness among policymakers and the general public, as well as through industry-leading events on topics ranging from cybersecurity to 5G.For more information, visit CTIA’s website at ctia.org or follow CTIA on Twitter: @CTIA
Ericsson is a world-leading provider of telecommunications equipment and related services to mobile and fixed network operators globally. Over 1,000 networks in more than 180 countries utilize our network equipment and 40 percent of all mobile calls are made through our systems.
Ericsson are one of the few companies worldwide that can offer end-to-end solutions for all major mobile communication standards. Communication is changing the way we live and work.
Ericsson plays a key role in this evolution, using innovation to empower people, business and society. Ericsson provides communications networks, telecom services and multimedia solutions, making it easier for people all over the globe to communicate.
www.ericsson.com
GSA (the Global mobile Suppliers Association) is a not-for-profit industry organisation representing companies across the worldwide mobile ecosystem engaged in the supply of infrastructure, semiconductors, test equipment, devices, applications and mobile support services. GSA actively promotes the 3GPP technology road-map – 3G; 4G; 5G, – and is a single source of information resource for industry reports and market intelligence. GSA Members drive the GSA agenda and define the communications and development strategy for the Association. The GSA Spectrum Group develops strategies and plans, and contributes studies and technical analysis to international, regional and individual country policy-makers and regulators to facilitate the timely availability of spectrum for use by mobile network operators.
www.gsacom.com
The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting nearly 800 operators with more than 250 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and Internet companies, as well as organisations in adjacent industry sectors. The GSMA also produces industry-leading events such as Mobile World Congress, Mobile World Congress Shanghai and the Mobile 360 Series conferences.
GSOA is a non-profit organisation established with the objective of serving and promoting the common interests of satellite operators from Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the CIS. The Association today represents the interests of 21 satellite operators who deliver information communication services across the globe. Together GSOA Members provide invaluable communications services to the whole world including emergency communications, live broadcasting, maritime and aero communications, secure services for governments, 24-7 monitoring of industrial processes such as energy plants and a whole range of other communications capabilities that society has come to rely on.
HPE is a global, edge-to-cloud Platform-as-a-Service company built to transform your business. How? By helping you connect, protect, analyse and act on all your data and applications wherever they live, from edge to cloud, so you can turn insights into outcomes at the speed required to thrive in today’s complex world.
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www.hoganlovells.com
Forum Global specializes in policy focused conferences and events, providing a platform for discussion and debate on topical issues across a variety of different sectors. These events are organized with clients and partners and aim to progress ideas and actions on important issues, all within a balanced and neutral setting. Forum Global is the international arm of Forum Europe, which was founded by Giles Merritt, columnist for the International Herald Tribune, and is widely recognized as the leading EU dedicated event provider. Headed by a team of events specialists with over 19 years of experience, Forum Global works successfully with businesses, institutions and governments alike. Its strategic services can maintain and develop your key policy networks, and also deliver forums where key issues can be aired and debated.
LYA is an expert consultant to the telecommunications and broadcasting industry focused on strategic advice, research and spectrum matters including auctions.LYA’s focus is on providing value-added services in development and implementation of strategy and business plans, investment analysis, support of acquisitions and divestitures, due diligence reviews and financial modelling. We provide regulatory and policy analysis, including expert evidence, and auction consulting services. LYA’s clients include mobile carriers, investors and regulators.LYA has independently developed Auction Platforms supporting different formats (SMRA, CCA, and clock auctions). LYA’s Auction Platforms have been used extensively to conduct mock auctions and simulations leveraging robot bidder capabilities. The Platforms are secure and configurable for use by auctioneers. The LYA team brings experience and expertise across different auction formats, spectrum bands and applications around the world. LYA also offers its clients the ability to conduct private auctions of spectrum licenses or other assets and handles all key tasks supporting the sale. Please visit www.LYA.com for more details.
The metaverse is the next evolution of social connection. Our company’s vision is to help bring the metaverse to life, so we are changing our name to reflect our commitment to this future.
NCTA are innovators and creators – an industry building the most powerful broadband platform and creating exciting TV programming that entertains, informs and inspires consumers every day. NCTA’s vision is for a technology and entertainment future that will advance innovation, inspire creativity, unleash connectivity, and exceed consumer expectations for a wide range of high-quality services.
NCTA are the nation’s largest broadband provider with fiber-rich networks reaching over 90% of all U.S. homes, offering 1 gig speeds to millions in urban and rural communities.
NCTA members are also TV networks with a rich history of creating award-winning programming.
Nokia is a global leader in creating the technologies at the heart of our connected world. Powered by the research and innovation of Nokia Bell Labs, we serve communications service providers, governments, large enterprises and consumers, with the industry’s most complete, end-to-end portfolio of products, services and licensing. From the enabling infrastructure for 5G and the Internet of Things, to emerging applications in virtual reality and digital health, we are shaping the future of technology to transform the human experience.
The OnGo Alliance believes that 4G and 5G solutions, utilizing shared spectrum, can enable both in-building and outdoor coverage and capacity expansion at massive scale. In order to maximize the full potential of shared spectrum, the OnGo Alliance aims to enable a robust ecosystem towards making OnGo solutions available. The mission of the OnGo Alliance is to evangelize 4G and 5G OnGo technology, use cases and business opportunities while simultaneously driving technology developments necessary to fulfill the mission, including multi-operator capabilities. The Alliance also established an effective product certification program for OnGo equipment in the U.S. 3.5 GHz band ensuring multi-vendor interoperability. For more information, please visit www.ongoalliance.org and follow the OnGo Alliance on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Qualcomm’s technologies powered the smartphone revolution and connected billions of people. While many of our inventions and breakthroughs reside “under the hood” of consumer electronics, they have transformed the world in a big way. They have helped propel mobile to the forefront of the technology world and to the top of consumers’ wish lists. They have created new opportunities for mobile ecosystem players — the wireless device makers, the operators, the developers and the content creators of the world. And more recently, our inventions and breakthroughs have inspired fresh, new ideas from those companies — large and small — new to the wireless space. We are engineers, scientists and business strategists. Together, we focus on a single goal — invent mobile technology breakthroughs. We pioneered 3G and 4G — and now, we are leading the way to 5G and a new era of intelligent, connected devices. Our products are revolutionizing industries including automotive, computing, IoT and healthcare, and are allowing millions of devices to connect with each other in ways never before imagined.
The Satellite Industry Association (SIA) was formed in 1995 by several major US satellite companies as a forum to discuss issues and develop industry-wide positions on shared business, regulatory and policy interests. SIA grew out of the Satellite Super Skyway Coalition, a voluntary alliance of major satellite players, galvanized into action in early 1993 when the U.S. Government began advancing the idea of a Global Information Infrastructure (GII). The success of the coalition in defining the role of satellites in the GII strengthened ties between major industry players and sowed the seeds for what today is the Satellite Industry Association. Since that time, SIA has developed into a full service 501(c) (6) trade association representing the commercial satellite industry. SIA has established active working groups involved with a host of policy issues including: regulatory issues (satellite licensing, spectrum allocation and regulatory policy); government services, public safety, export control policy, and international trade issues. SIA is now a recognized focal point for the U.S. satellite industry in Washington, D.C., representing and advocating industry positions with key policy makers on Capitol Hill and with the White House, Federal Communication Commission and most Executive Branch departments and agencies.
As America’s Un-carrier, T-Mobile US, Inc. (NYSE: TMUS) is redefining the way consumers and businesses buy wireless services through leading product and service innovation. The Company’s advanced nationwide 4G LTE network delivers outstanding wireless experiences to approximately 59 million customers who are unwilling to compromise on quality and value. Based in Bellevue, Washington, T-Mobile US provides services through its subsidiaries and operates its flagship brands, T-Mobile and MetroPCS. For more information, please visit www.t-mobile.com.
Verizon Communications Inc., headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America’s most reliable wireless network, with more than 100 million retail connections nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America’s most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries. A Dow 30 company with nearly $116 billion in 2012 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of 180,900.
Established in 1996, the Wireless Innovation Forum™ comprises an international group of equipment vendors, subsystem vendors, software developers, technology developers, communication service providers, research and engineering organizations, academic institutions, government users, regulators and other interested parties who share the common business interests of advancing technologies supporting the innovative utilization of spectrum and the development of wireless communications systems, including essential or critical communications systems.
DSA is the only global organization focused on promoting spectrum sharing innovation to get the most out of wireless resources. Our team is made up of worldwide technology experts, making the DSA the shared spectrum go-to organization for regulators and policymakers all over the world.
We advocate for policies that promote unlicensed and dynamic access to spectrum to unleash economic growth and innovation. Additionally, we advocate for a variety of technologies that allow dynamic access to spectrum.
Our focus is ensuring that the regulatory framework to support that diversity of technologies is adopted.
The DSA has a strong presence in North America, but also in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS) is a premier global provider of satellite communication solutions. Headquartered in Englewood, Colo., and conducting business around the globe, EchoStar Corporation is a pioneer in secure communications technologies.
As an investor, you can access Grain’s tenured experience, proprietary intelligence, and deep industry relationships. Grain seek to provide stable revenue streams by uncovering unrealized value in mission-critical services and infrastructure.
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Grain Management is leading innovative private investments in broadband technology.
Since 2019, UWB has been expanding into a mainstream consumer technology for smartphones, wearables, automotive and industry, forecasted to drive sales volumes in excess of one billion devices annually by 2025. Building upon the standardization work performed by our staff and members within the IEEE on the 802.15.4z, we are focussed on providing a favourable regulatory and spectrum management landscape to maximize UWB growth. This includes working to secure new advantageous rulesets in the upcoming reviews in USA and Europe to expand the use cases for UWB technology. We are also heavily involved in optimizing spectrum sharing whilst minimizing interference. We evangelise coexistence for the expanding Wireless Multiverse and work with members and stakeholders to provide thought leadership on strategies to “make it all work together”.
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Founded in 1925, Shure Incorporated is widely acknowledged as the world’s leading manufacturer of microphones and audio electronics. Shure is headquartered in Niles, Illinois, in the United States with nearly 40 additional manufacturing facilities and regional sales offices throughout the Americas, EMEA, and Asia. We are committed to being the leading advocate for the audio industry in the wireless spectrum arena so that it can continue to have long-term access to spectrum.
Summit Ridge Group is a leading financial and business valuation consulting boutique focused exclusively on the telecommunications, media, and satellite industries globally. Since 2008, clients have engaged us to provide objective perspectives on complex valuation-related matters involving high stakes transaction decisions, litigation support, or financial restructuring matters. Our projects are often related to hard-to-value businesses or the valuation of intangible assets such as wireless spectrum licenses or satellite orbital slot authorizations. Our senior team members are highly qualified valuation professionals and widely recognized expert thought leaders in their communications sector niches. Summit Ridge Group’s business model allows its senior professionals to spend more time researching and writing about the sector than their peers at larger firms with more overhead. As industry thought leaders, we are not afraid to advance well-supported compelling perspectives that deviate from current consensus thinking.
Aetha Consulting provides strategic advice to the telecommunications industry and specialises in undertaking rigorous data-driven quantitative assessments to help businesses, regulators and policy makers make major strategic and regulatory decisions. We work with our clients to develop creative and sustainable solutions to the challenges facing them in a constantly changing environment. Aetha helps operators and regulators to analyse the opportunities and threats arising out of changes (whether real or proposed) in their radio spectrum holdings. Throughout the recent unprecedented growth of wireless services, Aetha’s staff have been at the forefront of spectrum policy. Our consultants have assisted regulators to award spectrum and develop regulatory frameworks, including supporting the European Commission to tackle issues such as spectrum trading and the digital dividend. We also support operators to understand their spectrum needs, value spectrum and bid in auctions. Each year we support around 10 bidders in spectrum auctions – a total of over 120 award processes between mid-2011 and 2023 across all regions of the world. Our technical knowledge, combined with our rigorous valuation modelling approach, ensures that our clients are comprehensively prepared for auctions.
NERA Economic Consulting is a global firm of experts dedicated to applying economic, finance, and quantitative principles to complex business and legal challenges. For half a century, NERA’s economists have been creating strategies, studies, reports, expert testimony, and policy recommendations for government authorities and the world’s leading law firms and corporations. We bring academic rigor, objectivity, and real world industry experience to bear on issues arising from competition, regulation, public policy, strategy, finance, and litigation. NERA’s clients value our ability to apply and communicate state-of-the-art approaches clearly and convincingly, our commitment to deliver unbiased findings, and our reputation for quality and independence. Our clients rely on the integrity and skills of our unparalleled team of economists and other experts backed by the resources and reliability of one of the world’s largest economic consultancies. With its main office in New York City, NERA serves clients from more than 25 offices across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.
Audio specialist Sennheiser is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of headphones, microphones and wireless transmission systems. Based in Wedemark near Hanover, Germany, Sennheiser operates its own production facilities in Germany, Ireland and the USA and is active in more than 50 countries. With 19 sales subsidiaries and long-established trading partners, the company supplies innovative products and cutting-edge audio solutions that are optimally tailored to its customers’ needs.
Commissioner Anna M. Gomez is the first Latina-American to be confirmed to the FCC in over two decades. She believes the FCC does best when its work honors the people it serves.
Commissioner Gomez is committed to ensuring we have a vibrant, strong, competitive telecommunications and media marketplace that promotes U.S. economic prosperity and security while also meeting the needs of all consumers.
There is much work to be done to ensure that every person in every community, regardless of geography or income, has access to high-speed broadband. She has experienced the fear of not being able to afford a telephone bill and knows what it means to risk the loss of connection. Ensuring that everyone in rural, Tribal, suburban, and urban communities can get and stay connected is critical to next-century success for us all. As a Latina American, she brings her perspective to the Commission on ways to address the needs of all communities—including the Latino community.
She knows we must be vigilant about protecting consumers. From spam calls and scam texts, to promoting localism and diverse media ownership, to ensuring the internet is open and that consumers can go where they want online without limits, Commissioner Gomez believes consumers’ interests must lead communications policymaking. That also means ensuring our first responders can communicate in times of crisis. Her years of working with public safety leaders and first responders has given her an appreciation of their unique—and vital—communications needs. It also means ensuring our connections are secure and resilient.
Anna brings over 30 years of public and private sector experience in domestic and international communications law and policy to her position. Commissioner Gomez most recently served as a Senior Advisor for International Information and Communications Policy in the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy at the Department of State where she led U.S. preparations for the International Telecommunication Union World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23).
She served as the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Deputy Administrator from 2009 to 2013, where she led efforts that resulted in a new $7 billion public safety broadband network program. She also served for 12 years in various positions at the FCC, including as Deputy Chief of the International Bureau and as Senior Legal Advisor to then-Chairman William E. Kennard. Commissioner Gomez also served briefly as Counsel to the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Subcommittee on Communication, and as Deputy Chief of Staff of the National Economic Council during the Clinton Administration. Prior to joining the State Department in 2023, Commissioner Gomez worked in private practice focusing on telecommunications law.
Born in Orlando, Florida, Commissioner Gomez spent her childhood in Bogota, Colombia before her family relocated to New Jersey. She now resides in Virginia. Commissioner Gomez earned her B.A. in Pre-Law from Pennsylvania State University and her J.D. from George Washington University Law School.
Commissioner Brendan Carr is the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, having served previously as the FCC’s General Counsel. Nominated by both President Trump and President Biden, Carr has been confirmed unanimously by the Senate three times.
Described by Axios as “the FCC’s 5G crusader,” Carr has led the FCC’s work to modernize its infrastructure rules and accelerate the buildout of high-speed networks. His reforms cut billions of dollars in red tape, enabled the private sector to construct high-speed networks in communities across the country, and extended America’s global leadership in 5G.
Commissioner Carr is also focused on expanding America’s skilled workforce—the tower climbers and construction crews needed to build next-gen networks. His jobs initiative promotes community colleges and apprenticeships as a pipeline for good-paying 5G jobs. He is recognizing America’s talented tower crews through a series of “5G Ready” Hard Hat presentations.
Commissioner Carr leads a groundbreaking telehealth initiative at the FCC. The Connected Care Pilot Program supports the delivery of high-quality care to low-income Americans and veterans.
Commissioner Carr’s time outside of Washington helps inform his approach to the job. He regularly hits the road to hear directly from community members and learn how changes in federal policies could help improve their lives.
Commissioner Carr brings nearly 20 years of private and public sector experience in communications and tech policy to his position. Before joining the FCC as a staffer back in 2012, he worked as an attorney at Wiley Rein LLP in the firm’s appellate, litigation, and telecom practices. Previously, Commissioner Carr clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit for Judge Dennis Shedd. After attending Georgetown University for his undergrad, Commissioner Carr earned his J.D. magna cum laude from the Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law where he served as an editor of the Catholic University Law Review.
Chantal Davis is Director of Regulatory Policy at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. In her current role, she is responsible for developing plans and policies related to spectrum use and spectrum auctions. In her over 20-year career at ISED, Ms Davis has been responsible for domestic and international spectrum planning, engineering and standards related to mobile communications including broadband, public safety, engineering practices for interference management and land mobile radio. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Ottawa.
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Jessica Quinley is an Assistant Bureau Chief in the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC). She joined the FCC in 2019, having previously served as an Attorney Advisor in the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Ms. Quinley leads a wide range of FCC spectrum proceedings, including the adoption of new rules governing direct connections from satellites to wireless devices and the oversight of the Citizens Broadband Radio Service. Ms. Quinley also plays a significant role in U.S. government interagency spectrum management, having served as the FCC representative to the Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee, which advises NTIA on a broad range of spectrum policy issues, and having worked to update the FCC and NTIA’s Memorandum of Understanding on spectrum coordination processes.
Jennifer has worked on satellite and spectrum regulatory issues at the FCC for over two decades. She most recently served as Assistant Chief of the International Bureau focusing on satellite licensing and rulemakings. She also held several other leadership positions within the International Bureau, including Deputy Chief, of the Strategic Analysis and Negotiations Division, where she managed bilateral spectrum negotiations, as well as serving as Associate Chief of the Satellite Division and Chief of the Satellite Policy Branch in the Satellite Division. She earned her law degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law, and her bachelor’s degree from the University of Delaware.
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As President of SIA, Tom Stroup is the trade association’s lead advocate for regulatory and policy issues of critical importance to SIA’s membership, including spectrum and licensing issues, defense and public safety matters, and export control and international trade issues. He also manages the day-to-day operations of SIA, including member communications, staff leadership and organization of SIA sponsored events.
Prior to joining SIA, Mr. Stroup was with Shared Spectrum Company (SSC), a leading developer of spectrum intelligence technologies, where he served as CEO. For more than a decade, he served as the President of the Personal Communications Industry Association (PCIA). Previous to his position at SSC, he founded and ran several companies in the technology industry, including Columbia Spectrum Management, P-Com Network Services, CSM Wireless, and SquareLoop.
Mr. Stroup holds a BS, summa cum laude, in Public Administration from the University of North Dakota. He is also a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center where he served as Editor of the Georgetown Law Journal.
Mr. Power served as the U.S. Deputy Chief Technology Officer for Telecommunications in the White House Office of Science and Technology from August 2011 until December 2014. Previously, Mr. Power served as Chief of Staff for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, United States Department of Commerce from April 2009 through August 2011. From 2000 to 2009 Mr. Power was General Counsel for Fiberlink Communications in Blue Bell, Pa. From 1994 until 2000, Mr. Power served at the Federal Communications Commission in several supervisory roles until named Senior Legal Adviser to FCC Chairman William Kennard, where he advised the chairman on broadband, common carrier and mass media matters. Prior to joining the FCC, Mr. Power was a telecommunications and litigation partner at Winston & Strawn. He joined CTIA as SVP and General Counsel in 2015.
He has undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Virginia.
Alan Norman joined Meta’s connectivity policy team in 2016 and actively supports Meta’s Spectrum and Connectivity initiatives. Alan is a long-time advocate for improved broadband and internet access, shared infrastructure, and spectrum for next generation technologies. Recently Alan has been engaged on spectrum for AR/VR, Wi-Fi, UWB and 5G with a focus on enabling the Metaverse.
Alan holds a BS in Mathematical Sciences from Stanford University and an MS in Management from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business where he was a Sloan Fellow.
Pascale Dumit is Director for International Spectrum Policy at T-Mobile. She leads the company’s engagements at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and within other regional organizations such as the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL).
Pascale has served on U.S. delegations to the ITU since 2010, including the U.S. delegations to the 2022 Plenipotentiary Conference and the 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference.
Pascale is also a member of the FCC 2027 ITU World Radiocommunication Conference Advisory Committee, a member of the Department of State International Digital Economy and Telecommunication Advisory Committee, a Co-Chair of the Federal Communications Bar Association (FCBA) International Telecommunications Committee and a Vice-Chair of the U.S. ITU Association.
Pascale’s previous experience includes various roles in the Space industry in addition to supporting NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense on a broad range of international spectrum management issues where she served as a key contributor to the overall development and implementation of U.S. strategy in national and international spectrum regulatory environments.
Pascale holds BS and MS degrees in Electrical Engineering from The George Washington University.
Fernando Carrillo has an extensive experience in technical/regulatory aspects on spectrum policy, planning and management, as well as on satellite coordination and licensing; experience acquired during more than 23 years of a successful career, both as a former official in the telecommunications regulatory entity of Mexico and more recently at Echostar/Hughes, where he is in charge of the development of strategies and policies to guarantee the company’s access to spectrum and orbital resources, as well of the regulatory activities in countries where the company provides services.
In the international arena, Mr. Carrillo has participated in the World Radio Conferences and the corresponding preparatory cycles from 1997 to 2019, serving in 2007 and 2012 as Alternate Head of the Mexican Delegation. He also served as Chair of CITEL’s Permanent Consultative Committee III- Radiocommunications in 2001 and 2002.
Jeffrey Marks is Vice President, Regulatory Affairs for Nokia. In that role, Jeff develops and presents Nokia’s legal and policy positions to officials at all levels of government. Jeff advocates on a wide range of issues, including spectrum policy, broadband deployment, net neutrality/net governance, “smart” infrastructure, and network security.
Aspa Paroutsas is Vice President of Federal Regulatory Affairs at Qualcomm, and represents Qualcomm before the Federal Communications Commission and other U.S. agencies responsible for spectrum and technology policy. Aspa joined Qualcomm in the Fall of 2021 and prior to that she was a Senior Spectrum Regulatory Advisor for Project Kuiper/Amazon.
Aspa has held several senior positions at the Federal Communications Commission, including Chief of Staff of the Office of Engineering and Technology. She worked on numerous spectrum matters including spectrum allocation decisions that opened new bands for innovative uses in the U.S. Prior to her government service, Aspa worked at a large international law firm handling international and wireless regulatory issues.
Aspa received her J.D., cum laude from the Columbus School of Law, Catholic University of America, her M.Sc. in Public Policy from Queen Mary, University of London and her B.A. from New York University.
Prakash Moorut has been appointed Senior Director of Spectrum and Regulatory Affairs for Shure.
Moorut is responsible for leading Shure’s efforts to advocate for audio professionals as it pertains to industry regulations. He serves as Shure’s point person with regulators, lawmakers, and industry associations, as well as partners with engineering and product management to create a regulatory roadmap that adheres to current and future policies.
Before coming to Shure, Moorut spent more than 10 years with Nokia, most recently serving as Head of Spectrum Standardization, where he led the company’s efforts on global spectrum standardization and policy. He brings additional global regulatory experience from his previous role at Motorola, where he worked for 14 years.
As wireless microphones continue to play an essential role in enabling productions across a wide swath of American life, culture, and the economy, new regulations will impact these areas without audio industry involvement. Beyond the traditional role of wireless microphones in broadcasting and film production, wireless microphones enable productions in a wide range of sectors, including news reporting, theater, music, sports, worship, civic events, transportation infrastructure, and education. Moorut’s new role helps Shure continue to advocate for the people who rely on wireless microphones and related technologies.
Moorut received his Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from Ecole Superieure D’Electricite (SUPELEC), one of France’s leading engineering schools.
Vice President, Federal Regulatory, AT&T. Current responsibilities include all of AT&T’s wireless and spectrum related-matters before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Instrumental in development and promotion of AT&T’s positions on auctions. Significant experience in the process of obtaining FCC approval for a variety of transactions and license transfers. Significant experience in proceedings involving reform of intercarrier compensation and universal service. Extensive experience in the FCC’s unending net neutrality proceedings.
Previously served as AT&T’s representative on the North American Numbering Council, a Federal Advisory Committee that advises the FCC on telephone numbering issues. From 2007-2011, Member of the Board of Directors for the Wireless Communications Association International. Member of the Board of Directors for the National Exchange Carrier Association.
From 1996-2004, Director Law and Public Policy for MCI. Worked on most of the major proceedings to implement the Telecommunications Act of 1996, including implementation of the provisions related to network unbundling, universal service, local number portability, and Bell Operating Company entry into long distance services.
Patrick Welsh joined Verizon in January 2012 as Assistant Vice President – Wireless Policy Development, where he is engaged in the development of Verizon’s public policy positions on spectrum and other wireless issues.
Prior to joining Verizon, Patrick worked in T-Mobile’s government affairs office in both the federal regulatory and legislative affairs groups. As a regulatory attorney, Patrick was responsible for a number of wireless public-policy issues, including spectrum policy, spectrum auctions, voice and data roaming, wireless open access/network neutrality, broadband reclassification, smart grid, mergers and acquisitions, and federal preemption of state regulations. As part of T-Mobile’s legislative team, he lobbied both Democrats and Republicans on the House and Senate commerce committees. Prior to joining T-Mobile, Patrick worked at American Tower, where he managed site development and construction of wireless communications facilities in the Mid-Atlantic area.
Patrick began his career at Gallagher, Evelius & Jones, LLP as an associate with the firm’s commercial transactions group. He is an adjunct professor at Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law and a graduate of Syracuse University College of Law (J.D.) and Loyola College (B.A.).
Dr Martha Suarez is President of the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance and has over 15 years of experience in the telecommunications industry. In her current role at the DSA she advocates for laws and regulations that will lead to more efficient and effective spectrum utilization, which is essential to addressing key worldwide social and economic challenges. She spent over three years as General Director of the National Spectrum Agency in Colombia, having originally joined the ANE in 2013. Before that, she was awarded with a Marie Curie Fellowship and worked at the Instytut Technologii Elektronowej ITE in Poland for the Partnership for Cognitive Radio Par4CR European Project. Suarez is an electronics engineer, with a master degree in high frequency communication systems and is Doctor in electronics from the University Paris-Est.
Jonathan joins the office from the Office of Economics and Analytics, where he served as Chief of the Auctions Division. Previously, Jonathan served as Acting Special Counsel to the Office Chief, legal advisor to the Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, and attorney-advisor in the Bureau’s Broadband Division. Prior to joining the Commission, Jonathan was Director of Government Affairs at the Wireless Infrastructure Association. He earned a B.S. in Communications from Boston University and a J.D. and certificate in communications law from the Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law and its Law and Technology Institute.
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Commissioner Anna M. Gomez is the first Latina-American to be confirmed to the FCC in over two decades. She believes the FCC does best when its work honors the people it serves.
Commissioner Gomez is committed to ensuring we have a vibrant, strong, competitive telecommunications and media marketplace that promotes U.S. economic prosperity and security while also meeting the needs of all consumers.
There is much work to be done to ensure that every person in every community, regardless of geography or income, has access to high-speed broadband. She has experienced the fear of not being able to afford a telephone bill and knows what it means to risk the loss of connection. Ensuring that everyone in rural, Tribal, suburban, and urban communities can get and stay connected is critical to next-century success for us all. As a Latina American, she brings her perspective to the Commission on ways to address the needs of all communities—including the Latino community.
She knows we must be vigilant about protecting consumers. From spam calls and scam texts, to promoting localism and diverse media ownership, to ensuring the internet is open and that consumers can go where they want online without limits, Commissioner Gomez believes consumers’ interests must lead communications policymaking. That also means ensuring our first responders can communicate in times of crisis. Her years of working with public safety leaders and first responders has given her an appreciation of their unique—and vital—communications needs. It also means ensuring our connections are secure and resilient.
Anna brings over 30 years of public and private sector experience in domestic and international communications law and policy to her position. Commissioner Gomez most recently served as a Senior Advisor for International Information and Communications Policy in the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy at the Department of State where she led U.S. preparations for the International Telecommunication Union World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23).
She served as the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Deputy Administrator from 2009 to 2013, where she led efforts that resulted in a new $7 billion public safety broadband network program. She also served for 12 years in various positions at the FCC, including as Deputy Chief of the International Bureau and as Senior Legal Advisor to then-Chairman William E. Kennard. Commissioner Gomez also served briefly as Counsel to the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Subcommittee on Communication, and as Deputy Chief of Staff of the National Economic Council during the Clinton Administration. Prior to joining the State Department in 2023, Commissioner Gomez worked in private practice focusing on telecommunications law.
Born in Orlando, Florida, Commissioner Gomez spent her childhood in Bogota, Colombia before her family relocated to New Jersey. She now resides in Virginia. Commissioner Gomez earned her B.A. in Pre-Law from Pennsylvania State University and her J.D. from George Washington University Law School.
Following the release of the National Spectrum Strategy (NSS) last year, the NTIA published the NSS Implementation Plan (I-Plan) in March of this year, which looked to identify more concretely the next steps and path ahead in the four pillars that have been identified: Spectrum pipeline, Long-term collaborative planning, spectrum access through technology development and workforce development. This session will look at the key objectives that have been set as part of the NSS, the timeframe and targets that have been outlined as part of the I-Plan, and the broad path ahead as the implementation of the strategy begins. With 2,786 MHz of spectrum across 5 different bands identified to be studied for repurposing, in order to help fuel ‘next-generation services’, the session will explore the work that now lies ahead, and the extent to which the NSS can help to meet the objectives that have been set of delivering U.S. leadership in wireless technologies.
Ruth Milkman is a partner in Quadra Partners, LLC, a strategic-advisory firm providing integrated expertise across business, finance, and public policy in the context of converging communications technologies.
Ms. Milkman served as the Chief of Staff of the Federal Communications Commission from 2013-2017 and Chief of the FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau between 2009 and 2013. From 1998-2009 she worked as one of the leading telecommunications lawyers in Washington as co-founder of Lawler, Metzger, Milkman and Keeney, a firm serving clients ranging from start-ups to large established telecommunications companies and private-equity firms. Before joining Lawler, Metzger, Ms. Milkman held a variety of senior positions at the FCC, including Senior Legal Advisor to Chairman Reed Hundt and Deputy Chief of the International and Common Carrier Bureaus.
Ms. Milkman has a B.A. from Harvard University and a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School. She served as a clerk for the Honorable J. Harvie Wilkinson III on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
Jonathan joins the office from the Office of Economics and Analytics, where he served as Chief of the Auctions Division. Previously, Jonathan served as Acting Special Counsel to the Office Chief, legal advisor to the Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, and attorney-advisor in the Bureau’s Broadband Division. Prior to joining the Commission, Jonathan was Director of Government Affairs at the Wireless Infrastructure Association. He earned a B.S. in Communications from Boston University and a J.D. and certificate in communications law from the Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law and its Law and Technology Institute.
As President of SIA, Tom Stroup is the trade association’s lead advocate for regulatory and policy issues of critical importance to SIA’s membership, including spectrum and licensing issues, defense and public safety matters, and export control and international trade issues. He also manages the day-to-day operations of SIA, including member communications, staff leadership and organization of SIA sponsored events.
Prior to joining SIA, Mr. Stroup was with Shared Spectrum Company (SSC), a leading developer of spectrum intelligence technologies, where he served as CEO. For more than a decade, he served as the President of the Personal Communications Industry Association (PCIA). Previous to his position at SSC, he founded and ran several companies in the technology industry, including Columbia Spectrum Management, P-Com Network Services, CSM Wireless, and SquareLoop.
Umair Javed serves as Senior Vice President and General Counsel. He joined CTIA in 2023 as Senior Vice President, Spectrum, where he was responsible for advancing the wireless industry’s spectrum priorities both domestically and internationally.
Prior to joining CTIA, Umair influenced global and domestic law and policy as Chief Counsel to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. He served as the FCC designee on President Biden’s Competition Council, led the FCC’s National Security Policy Council, and represented the agency at international treaty-writing conferences. During his time at the FCC, Umair also crafted the FCC’s Spectrum Coordination Initiative, oversaw the third-highest grossing spectrum auction in FCC history, coordinated the deployment of 5G services in the C-band, and partnered with Congress on passage and FCC implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act, and Secure Equipment Act.
From October 2017 to January 2019, Umair served as Legal Advisor, Wireless and International in the Office of FCC Commissioner Rosenworcel. He joined the FCC from Wiley Rein LLP, where he was an attorney in the firm’s Telecom, Media, and Technology Group.
Umair was named to the inaugural Lawyers of Color Hot List. He is also a 2021 HTTP “Tech Innovadores” recipient and the 2023 Public Safety Communications Leadership in Regulatory Service award recipient for his service at the FCC.
Umair has a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law and a bachelor of arts in Political Philosophy, Policy, and Law from the University of Virginia. He is a member of the bar in the District of Columbia and Virginia. Umair also is a volunteer firefighter in Loudoun County, Virginia.
Alan Norman joined Meta’s connectivity policy team in 2016 and actively supports Meta’s Spectrum and Connectivity initiatives. Alan is a long-time advocate for improved broadband and internet access, shared infrastructure, and spectrum for next generation technologies. Recently Alan has been engaged on spectrum for AR/VR, Wi-Fi, UWB and 5G with a focus on enabling the Metaverse.
Alan holds a BS in Mathematical Sciences from Stanford University and an MS in Management from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business where he was a Sloan Fellow.
Biswese joins NCTA from Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook) where she served as Associate General Counsel, Telecom & Regulatory. In this position, she worked with network infrastructure and connectivity teams to navigate domestic and international telecommunications, competition, and data protection and privacy laws and regulations concerning terrestrial and submarine cable networks, new terrestrial and non-terrestrial connectivity solutions, metaverse-ready networks, and next-generation OTT services.
Before joining Meta, Biswese was Senior Counsel with RingCentral where she led on U.S. and international regulatory and legal matters concerning VoIP service. She previously was an associate with Harris, Wiltshire & Grannis (HWG), and a law clerk to the Honorable Curtis V. Gómez in the United States District Court for the Virgin Islands.
Biswese received her J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School, where she was Notes Editor for the Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment and Technology Law, and her M.B.A. from Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School of Management. She received her B.A. magna cum laude from Clark Atlanta University.
Almost a year has now passed since the crucial World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-23) in Dubai. Stakeholders across the US and the Americas have had time to reflect on the decisions that were taken on key agenda items, assess their impact, and consider the next steps. This session will take the opportunity to look back on the conference, to examine the key objectives that were set by the US and the wider Americas region (through CITEL), and the extent to which these were met. It will then look forward to WRC-27, and with the second CITEL PCC.II meeting being held a week before this conference, discuss the positions that are emerging and the significant topics that will likely dominate discussions over the next 4 years. It will ask if there are any lessons that can be taken from the experiences at WRC-23 and look at what preparation already needs to begin to ensure a successful ‘cycle’ for the region this time around.
Matt Pearl most recently served as Director and Special Advisor for Emerging Technologies at the White House National Security Council, where he focused on technology and telecommunications issues, including spectrum policy, Open RAN, 5G, and IoT; global standards setting; cybersecurity of telecom networks; and data security. Immediately before serving at the NSC, Matt was an Associate Bureau Chief at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). At the FCC, he was responsible for managing numerous spectrum transitions, including 3450-3550 MHz, 3.5 GHz/CBRS, 3.7-4.2 GHz (C-Band), and several millimeter waves bands. He also managed many of the Bureau’s nearly two million spectrum licenses. From 2014 until 2020, Matthew was a Research Affiliate at the Berkman-Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University, where he was part of an effort to advance mesh network technologies, and to evaluate the legal, policy, and technological issues that are raised by the adoption of such networks.
In 2010, Matthew earned a J.D. at Yale Law School, where he served as a submission’s editor for the Yale Journal on Regulation. Before joining the FCC, he worked as a law clerk for Judge Harris Hartz of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Prior to that, he was a law clerk for Judge Lawrence Kahn of the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York.
Veena is currently working as a Communications Technologies Consultant, providing advisory services to a number of organizations and corporations nationally and internationally. In 2014 she became an Officer of the Order of Canada for her “contributions to telecommunications engineering and for leadership in establishing the global regulatory framework for radio spectrum management”
Between 2011-14, Veena worked as Vice President and Ambassador to ITU for BlackBerry. During 2004-11, she was President of Communications Research Centre, the only Canadian federal government research lab conducting R&D in all communications technologies. Before heading CRC, Veena spent 28 years within the Canadian Government where she held executive positions in managing radio frequency spectrum.
Veena‘ s many “firsts” in her career and her long list of national and international awards include being the first female (and first Canadian as well) ever to chair ITU’s WRC (World Radio Conference) in 2003 for which she was awarded ITU’ s gold medal by the Secretary General.
Luigi Ardito is currently working as Director of government affairs for Europe, Middle East and North Africa at Qualcomm and drives the Qualcomm spectrum and regulatory policy agenda in Europe and MENA dealing with various government entities and industry organizations.
Prior to joining Qualcomm, Luigi worked for over a decade at Sony Corporation both in Japan and in the UK. Luigi also gained professional experience at France Telecom and at the Italian Public Broadcaster RAI.
Luigi has extensive experience in the Media and Telecom industry as well as the Semiconductor Industry gained through his assignments at Qualcomm, Sony, France Telecom and RAI. He holds an Electronic Engineering Degree gained at the Politecnico di Torino in Italy and a Master of Business Administration gained at the Henley Management College in the UK.
Martha Suarez was born in Bucaramanga, Colombia. She received her degree as Electronics Engineer from the Universidad Industrial de Santander in 2004. During her undergraduate studies, she participated in an exchange program with the Ecole Superieure Chimie Physique Electronique de Lyon, France, in 2001. She received her master’s degree in high frequency communication systems from the University of Marne-la-Vallee, France, in 2006 and her Ph.D. degree from the University Paris-Est in 2009. She joined the department of Telecommunications and Signal Processing at the École Supérieure d’Ingénieurs en Électronique et Électrotechnique de Paris ESIEE and the Esycom Research Center, where she worked on wireless transmitter architectures. In 2011, she was awarded with a Marie Curie Fellowship and worked at the Instytut Technologii Elektronowej ITE in Poland for the Partnership for Cognitive Radio (Par4CR) European Project. Her research interests were in the areas of wireless system architectures and the design of high performance Radio Frequency (RF) transceivers.
In 2013, she joined the National Spectrum Agency in Colombia, ANE, where she worked as Senior Adviser to the General Director and supported the international activities of the Agency. Afterwards, in December 2015, she became the General Director of ANE and continued promoting the efficient use of the Spectrum and the mobile broadband connectivity in Colombia.
Since the 1st of May 2019, Martha Suarez has been the President of the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance DSA, a global organization advocating for laws and regulations that will lead to more efficient and effective spectrum utilization, which is essential to addressing key worldwide social and economic challenges.
The focus of the opening two sessions of this conference has been on the national spectrum strategy and WRC-23, both of which are expected to play a big part in shaping the future spectrum environment, despite coming from different angles. Whilst the NSS focusses specifically on domestic challenges and requirements; the purpose of WRC-23 is to foster regional and global coordination, to avoid cross-border interference and to unlock benefits that will come as part of this. This highlights one of the major challenges for national regulators – to find the balance between the need to move quickly and take decisions based on specific national requirements, whilst also working alongside international partners to coordinate policy decisions and approaches. This session will discuss this in detail and look at the approach taken in recent years, the trends that are being seen today, and where the balance lies in delivering a spectrum strategy that maintains a position of global leadership.
With a team based in New York City and London, but working around the world, Mr. Marsden’s practice focuses on the design of allocation mechanisms, including:
· auctions and trading design;
· bidding strategy; and
· related competition, pricing, regulatory and public policy.
His work spans multiple industries, including broadcasting, energy, mobile telephony, procurement, radio spectrum and transport.
Many of Mr. Marsden’s recent projects have involved auction design, software implementation and/or bidder support related to the current wave of spectrum awards worldwide. Since 1999, he has provided strategy advice to leading incumbent operators and aspiring entrants in more than 35 spectrum auctions. He was also a lead member of the design team that developed and implemented the combinatorial clock auction, the first practical multi-round package bid format for awarding radio spectrum.
Prior to joining NERA, Mr. Marsden spent 10 years as Director and Managing Consultant at DotEcon, where he was responsible for business development for auctions, public policy, and strategy projects. He managed the project teams supporting the UK regulator Ofcom on digital dividend policy and UK spectrum auctions between 2005 and 2010. He also completed major studies for the European Commission on the allocation of the digital dividend and on spectrum trading and liberalization.
Mr. Marsden presents and publishes frequently on the topics of auctions, the communications industry, and spectrum management and allocation. He is the co-author of a book on broadband regulation (Springer, 2005). He is also an advisor to Forum Global on Spectrum Management conferences in the Americas, Asia and Europe.
Artur Coimbra de Oliveira has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Law from UnB, with an MBA in Business Management from Fundação Getúlio Vargas. He has been a member of the Federal Prosecutor’s Office since 2007, having previously been a Regulatory Specialist at Anatel. He served as an advisor to the Specialized Federal Prosecutor’s Office of Anatel and to the Presidency of the Republic. He was Director of Broadband at the Ministry of Communications and Secretary of Telecommunications from 2011 to 2022. During this period, he participated in the group formulating the National Broadband Program, chaired the Steering Committee of the Geostationary Defense and Strategic Communications Satellite project and He was a member of the Anatel Advisory Board.
Pascale Dumit is Director for International Spectrum Policy at T-Mobile. She leads the company’s engagements at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and within other regional organizations such as the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL).
Pascale has served on U.S. delegations to the ITU since 2010, including the U.S. delegations to the 2022 Plenipotentiary Conference and the 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference.
Pascale is also a member of the FCC 2027 ITU World Radiocommunication Conference Advisory Committee, a member of the Department of State International Digital Economy and Telecommunication Advisory Committee, a Co-Chair of the Federal Communications Bar Association (FCBA) International Telecommunications Committee and a Vice-Chair of the U.S. ITU Association.
Pascale’s previous experience includes various roles in the Space industry in addition to supporting NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense on a broad range of international spectrum management issues where she served as a key contributor to the overall development and implementation of U.S. strategy in national and international spectrum regulatory environments.
Pascale holds BS and MS degrees in Electrical Engineering from The George Washington University.
Jeffrey Marks is Vice President, Global Technology Policy and Regulatory Affairs for Nokia. In that role, Jeff develops and presents Nokia’s legal and policy positions to officials at all levels of government. Jeff advocates on a wide range of issues, including spectrum policy, broadband deployment, net neutrality/net governance, “smart” infrastructure, and network security.
With its balance of speed, capacity, coverage, and penetration for cellular wireless networks, mid-band spectrum is crucial for 5G. Given its early focus on mmWave frequencies for 5G rollout, the US was initially playing catch-up when it came to making sufficient mid-band, but a big push has subsequently taken place to free up additional bandwidth in ranges such as the C-band and CBRS. So where does the US stand now? This session will discuss how much spectrum is now available for the continued growth of IMT, how this compares to other countries in the Americas and to other regions, and at whether the right balance has been reached in the band when it comes to making spectrum available for different users and uses.
Armand Musey President and Founder of Summit Ridge Group. He has over 15 years of equity research, investment banking, and consulting experience.
Armand has completed dozens of financial valuation, strategic analysis, business development, corporate governance, and business plan creation assignments in the communications industry and has experience working on numerous financing and M&A transactions. His projects include leading Summit Ridge Group’s support of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust division’s review of the proposed T-Mobile/Sprint merger. Armand’s involvement with a wide breadth of companies has allowed him to develop a deep understanding of a range of media and telecom issues and the complex web of relationships underlying the sector’s competitive dynamics and associated regulatory issues. His legal background allows him to understand the heavily regulated telecom sector. During litigation support assignments, Armand’s legal background also allows him to quickly digest legal documents and identify industry issues likely to be most relevant to the legal team he supports.
Prior to founding Summit Ridge Group, Armand led the satellite industry research teams for Banc of America Securities, and later Solomon Smith Barney where he also covered the wireless tower industry. He earned numerous honors as a research analyst including being named to the Institutional Investor “All American” team three times (2000-2002) and the Wall Street Journal “All-Star” team. He was ranked as the top satellite industry analyst by Greenwich Associates. He was previously president of a boutique investment bank specializing in the satellite, media, and telecom industries.
Armand regularly speaks at major industry conferences and has been frequently quoted in leading trade publications and by national publications as an expert in communications finance and corporate governance. He authored the highly regarded publication The Spectrum Handbook 2018 and his recent industry research has been published in leading law journals. Armand is a member of the Federal Communications Bar Association (FCBA) and is a co-chair of its New York chapter (2016-present). He is also a member of the New York Society of Securities Analysts where he chaired the Corporate Governance Committee from 2007-2009 (vice-chair 2005-2007), the CFA Institute and the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) where he serves on the board of its New York Chapter (2017-2019), and the American Bankruptcy Institute.
Armand’s interests include classical music, post-modern philosophy, and mountain climbing. He served on the board of the Riverside Symphony (2008-2010) and as treasurer of the board of the Foucault Society (2005-2009). He is also a member of the National Arts Club. In 2008, Armand completed a longtime goal of climbing the highest peak on each of the seven continents (the “Seven Summits”), with a successful ascent of Mt. Everest.
Ira Keltz is Deputy Chief of the FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology.
OET is the Commission’s primary resource for engineering expertise and provides technical support to the Chairman, Commissioners and FCC Bureaus and Offices. Mr. Keltz is responsible for developing national spectrum policies for the United States telecommunications industry. This includes allocating spectrum for licensed services, setting technical rules for unlicensed devices, and implementing procedures for equipment certification.
Mr. Keltz has totaled almost 24 years at the FCC spanning two separate stints. In addition to positions in OET, he has held various positions in the Commission’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. Mr. Keltz has also worked for the law firm DLA Piper as well as Loral Advanced Projects and LSA, Inc. He earned a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the George Washington University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan
Chris Woolford is Ofcom’s Director of International Spectrum Policy where his responsibilities cover the UK’s international spectrum interests, especially in relation to the ITU, CEPT and EU. He is a member of Ofcom’s Spectrum Executive Team and Strategy Steering Group.
Chris is active in various European spectrum committees and currently represents the UK on the Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG). He has closely engaged for the UK on a number of key European and international spectrum initiatives and led the UK delegations to WRC-15 and WRC-12.
Before joining Ofcom, Chris worked in various UK Government Departments, including 6 years at Oftel, where he worked on different aspects of telecommunications regulation. Chris has a degree in mathematics and statistics from Manchester University.
Vice President, Federal Regulatory, AT&T. Current responsibilities include all of AT&T’s wireless and spectrum related-matters before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Instrumental in development and promotion of AT&T’s positions on auctions. Significant experience in the process of obtaining FCC approval for a variety of transactions and license transfers. Significant experience in proceedings involving reform of intercarrier compensation and universal service. Extensive experience in the FCC’s unending net neutrality proceedings.
Previously served as AT&T’s representative on the North American Numbering Council, a Federal Advisory Committee that advises the FCC on telephone numbering issues. From 2007-2011, Member of the Board of Directors for the Wireless Communications Association International. Member of the Board of Directors for the National Exchange Carrier Association.
From 1996-2004, Director Law and Public Policy for MCI. Worked on most of the major proceedings to implement the Telecommunications Act of 1996, including implementation of the provisions related to network unbundling, universal service, local number portability, and Bell Operating Company entry into long distance services.
Fabiano Chaves is Nokia’s Head of Spectrum Standardization for North America, responsible for defining and executing Nokia’s spectrum strategy, including standardization and policy work with customers, in industry groups and with national and international regulatory bodies, such as the FCC and the ITU. He has been Nokia’s primary representative in the FCC’s WRC Advisory committee (WAC) for WRC-23 and WRC-27. He also serves as Spectrum Working Group Vice Chair in the ATIS Next G Alliance.
Fabiano has over 20 years of experience in telecommunications, with activities spanning from research on wireless systems and networks (3G, 4G, 5G, Wi-Fi) to spectrum research, strategy, regulation and standardization. He has been continuously contributing to ITU and other research/regulation/standardization bodies on overall radio system aspects of the International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT), radio propagation, and sharing and compatibility between IMT and other systems.
He is co-author of 40+ papers in top-tier journals and conferences and 15+ patents. He received his Ph.D. degree in telecommunications from the Ecole Normale Supérieure de Cachan (ENS-Cachan, France) and the University of Campinas (Unicamp, Brazil), and his Master’s degree in teleinformatics engineering from the Federal University of Ceará (UFC, Brazil).
Tim is the Chairman and Executive Director for the Ultra Wide Band (UWB) Alliance. The Alliance is dedicated to developing interoperable specifications for UWB products and coexistence strategies for sharing spectrum with other RF devices and services. Tim is also the Chairman for the IEEE 802.15.4z Task Group as well as Vice Chairman of ETSI TGUWB. Tim is a long-standing advocate of standardization to expand markets.
Previously, Tim was Vice President of Hardware Product Strategy at Zebra Location Solutions Group, the leading developer and manufacturer of Real-Time Locating Systems, (RTLS). He directed hardware product management for the Zebra RTLS products including the WhereNet, Dart UWB, and GPS enabled product lines.
Tim served 16 years as VP of Product Strategy for WhereNet (acquired by Zebra) which introduced the first commercially available RTLS products. Prior to joining WhereNet, Tim directed Product Management for Symbol, where his team coauthored the first release of IEEE 802.11, and formed the Wi-Fi Alliance. An engineer with an EE degree from SUNY Stonybrook, Tim also spent several years developing software and hardware for Symbol.
A patent holder, Mr. Harrington is credited with developing new concepts in the areas of bar code scanning, wireless LANs, and RTLS technology. He has written many articles concerning RF and Auto ID technologies.
Earlier this year, a major set of enhancements were made to the 3-tiered sharing model that is used within the CBRS band. ‘CBRS 2.0’ has been heralded by proponents as a major step forward, with greater performance, reliability, and reduced interference being promised. The session will look at the changes that have been applied, and the impact that they could have on the usability and value of this key mid-band spectrum for all of the users in the band. With critics saying to-date that the level of use in the band by mobile use has been relatively low, partly due to the disruption from incumbent military activities in the identified Dynamic Protection Areas (DPAs), to what extent can these new changes address these issues and what will this mean for the future use of the band?
Jessica Quinley is an Assistant Bureau Chief in the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC). She joined the FCC in 2019, having previously served as an Attorney Advisor in the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Ms. Quinley leads a wide range of FCC spectrum proceedings, including the adoption of new rules governing direct connections from satellites to wireless devices and the oversight of the Citizens Broadband Radio Service. Ms. Quinley also plays a significant role in U.S. government interagency spectrum management, having served as the FCC representative to the Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee, which advises NTIA on a broad range of spectrum policy issues, and having worked to update the FCC and NTIA’s Memorandum of Understanding on spectrum coordination processes.
Justin Markle serves as Head of Wireless Partnerships & Development at Comcast Corporation, where he leads commercial wireless activities, manages Comcast’s wireless spectrum portfolio, and is responsible for developing new wireless offerings for the company.
Justin previously served as Chief Financial Officer for FreeWheel, an advertising technology company acquired by Comcast, where he led global business operations to help deliver 10x revenue growth. He also worked in Comcast’s Corporate Development group, where he executed over 30 transactions representing nearly $40 billion in deal value for Comcast and NBCUniversal across the media, software, and telecom sectors.
Prior to joining Comcast, Justin held positions at Citigroup in New York City and at PA Consulting Group in Washington, DC. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Duke University and his Masters in Business Administration degree from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Justin resides in the Philadelphia area with his wife and three daughters.
Patrick Welsh joined Verizon in January 2012 as Assistant Vice President – Wireless Policy Development, where he is engaged in the development of Verizon’s public policy positions on spectrum and other wireless issues.
Prior to joining Verizon, Patrick worked in T-Mobile’s government affairs office in both the federal regulatory and legislative affairs groups. As a regulatory attorney, Patrick was responsible for a number of wireless public-policy issues, including spectrum policy, spectrum auctions, voice and data roaming, wireless open access/network neutrality, broadband reclassification, smart grid, mergers and acquisitions, and federal preemption of state regulations. As part of T-Mobile’s legislative team, he lobbied both Democrats and Republicans on the House and Senate commerce committees. Prior to joining T-Mobile, Patrick worked at American Tower, where he managed site development and construction of wireless communications facilities in the Mid-Atlantic area.
Patrick began his career at Gallagher, Evelius & Jones, LLP as an associate with the firm’s commercial transactions group. He is an adjunct professor at Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law and a graduate of Syracuse University College of Law (J.D.) and Loyola College (B.A.).
Chantal Davis is Director of Regulatory Policy at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. In her current role, she is responsible for developing plans and policies related to spectrum use and spectrum auctions.
In her over 20-year career at ISED, Ms Davis has been responsible for domestic and international spectrum planning, engineering and standards related to mobile communications including broadband, public safety, engineering practices for interference management and land mobile radio.
She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Ottawa.
As the demands of our hyper-connected world outpace the availability of traditional spectrum, spectrum sharing is set to become increasingly part of the connectivity landscape. However, sharing always means a compromise of some kind – there are always technical and regulatory challenges to overcome, and restrictions or limits of some kind need to be put into place in order to ensure the protection of all users from harmful interference. The trick is to ensure that even with these compromises, sharing still leads to a ‘win-win’ scenario for the players involved and ensures that the overall value of the spectrum being shared is maximised. This session will look at the increasing importance that spectrum sharing will play in meeting future connectivity requirements, and at how technological and regulatory advances can help to ultimately deliver a successful sharing environment. It will explore different sharing models and techniques, including dynamic access, cognitive radio technologies, licensed shared access models, geographic sharing and unlicensed models like CBRS (including its new iteration ‘CBRS 2.0’, discussed in the previous session); and explore models for both sharing between different commercial users and also between commercial and federal users. How successful has spectrum sharing been to date, what lessons have been learnt, and what needs to be done to ensure sharing of spectrum results in a ‘win-win’ and not a ‘lose-lose’ scenario?
Paul Kirby is a Senior Editor at Wolters Kluwer’s TRA Daily. He has been a reporter for more than 30 years. For more than 20 years, he has focused his coverage on wireless telecommunications policy, closely following regulatory and legal developments amid the rapid evolution of the telecom and technology businesses. He covers the FCC, Capitol Hill, the executive branch, and the courts. Paul’s extensive experience and specialized knowledge make him widely recognized in Washington regulatory circles as an expert on wireless policy issues. He is often asked to moderate panels at industry conferences and has appeared frequently on C-SPAN. Before joining TR Daily, Paul worked at Reuters, at a regional news service in Washington, and at newspapers in Florida and Virginia.
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Jeff Stewart develops public policy positions and coordinates advocacy support for a wide range of issues affecting AT&T’s wireless businesses.
Currently, he supports AT&T’s spectrum policy initiatives and also addresses all policy matters affecting AT&T’s Internet of Things businesses. Jeff represents AT&T before many government entities and policymakers, including the U.S. Department of Transportation and its surface agencies, other Federal agencies, and state and Federal legislators. He also represents AT&T in various industry groups and is the Vice Chair of the Next G Alliance’s Policy Committee.
Jeff earned an MBA with a concentration in Technology Innovation and Strategy from Georgia Tech’s College of Management and a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in History from the University of Chicago. He is also a Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. Army War College with a Master of Strategic Studies.
With over 38 years of spectrum management experience, Mark is responsible for developing domestic and international business opportunities for CommScope. In addition to leading technical and business development efforts for numerous wireless and spectrum-related products and services, he has led efforts to address spectrum sharing between Federal government and commercial users. He leads CommScope’s CBRS efforts on the Spectrum Access System/Environmental Sensing Capability and the efforts to develop, test and certify the Automated Frequency Coordination system for 6 GHz unlicensed bands. He is a board member regulatory officer of the OnGo Alliance and </span><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Vice President and Vice Chair of the Forum</span><span style=”font-weight: 400;”> of the Wireless Innovation Forum. He is a member of the Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee, where he has also co-chaired working groups related to spectrum sharing and data exchange issues and has testified before the U.S. Congress on spectrum-related matters. He has led spectrum management efforts including spectrum sharing analysis protocols and sharing criteria, as well as development of engineering services and software products. He speaks frequently and has authored several papers on spectrum sharing and relocation and has advised numerous wireless participants in their system design.
Earlier this year, the FCC announced plans to relaunch the 5G Fund for Rural America, proposing an initial allocation of up to $9 billion to enhance voice and 5G mobile broadband access in rural areas. This comes on the back of a number of other existing programs and initiatives, including the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program, for which funds are still being allocated. This session will explore the different initiatives and programs that are being seen, and look at how they can be coordinated to ensure that the available funding is allocated in the most efficient and effective way. The session will also seek to shine a light on the different technology options that are available to provide the required connectivity (for example fiber, satellite, 5G/fixed wireless access), the pros and cons of each in terms of performance/speed, and also cost/affordability, and how each is bring prioritised as part of subsidy programs.
An engineer with broad experience in the telecoms and technology sectors, Andy has a particular interest in spectrum (auctions and valuation) and the impact of new technology (5G, AI, IoT and Big Data). He brings a deep understanding of both the industry and regulatory perspectives around the world through his role as Head of Policy for the GSMA and as Director of Spectrum Policy at Ofcom.
Andy spent 12 years at Vodafone, where he held various senior product development and corporate strategy roles. As Head of Spectrum, he was responsible for managing spectrum policy and auctions across the Vodafone Group. He led over twenty spectrum auctions around the world (including Turkey, Italy, Germany, India, Spain, Italy, Greece, Australia, Romania, NL and UK) from strategy/business case development to Plc. Board level sign-off and in-country implementation.
He was formerly a management consultant, has launched an internet payments and encryption company and worked as a research scientist at Sharp Laboratories of Europe and Sony Corporation, based in Japan. He has a doctorate in Engineering Science from Oxford University and an MBA. He is a frequent invited speaker at international conferences.
Ms. Hanly has served as Division Chief since 2015. She previously served as an Attorney Advisor in the Telecommunications Access Policy Division of the Wireline Competition Bureau. Before joining the FCC, Ms. Hanly was Senior Counsel for T-Mobile USA, Inc., Sprint Nextel Corporation, and Nextel Communications. Prior to Nextel, Ms. Hanly served as an Associate in private practice involving mergers and acquisitions. Ms. Hanly received her undergraduate degree from George Mason University and her law degree from Suffolk University Law School.
An expert on auctions, corporate strategy, and econometrics, Allan Ingraham advises on radio spectrum and electricity auctions, bid-rigging and market manipulation, corporate finance, and collective bargaining.
Dr. Ingraham has provided strategic advice in dozens of high-stakes auctions worldwide, guiding his clients to superior market positions for lower costs. He has also studied competition and market regulation for both wireline and wireless communications and has testified on radio spectrum licensing, auction competition, and the accuracy of statistical predictors. In addition, he has developed financial models for collective bargaining in professional sports.
Dr. Ingraham has published articles on the detection of bid-rigging, taxation and regulation of telecommunications services, the determinants of broadband adoption worldwide and in the United States, and the effects of auction design components on market outcomes. He has published articles in Contributions to Economic Analysis and Policy, Review of Network Economics, Yale Journal on Regulation, Topics in Economic Analysis and Policy, Telecommunications Policy, Canadian Journal of Law and Technology, and Virginia Tax Review.
Work has begun in earnest on exploring options for the key bands that will form the basis of the initial primary and pioneer spectrum for the rollout of 6G services. The initial CPM for WRC-27 identified the 7125 – 8500 MHz and 14.8 – 15.35 GHz bands to be studied for potential IMT identification in region 2, and alongside this, work is taking place across the US and North America to explore the release of other future bands, including the 4.4 – 4.8 GHz and the 12.7 – 13.2 GHz. There is debate on some of these bands however as to whether they will be specifically for 6G, or whether the pressing need for additional spectrum to facilitate the continued growth of 5G Advanced may mean that they are brought in as part of an earlier pipeline to meet needs here. Against this backdrop, this session will look at the work that is taking place towards developing a spectrum roadmap for 5G-Advanced and 6G to ensure global leadership for North America, but also looking more broadly at how this can be balanced with the shorter-term requirements to also meet growing needs of 5G Advanced, as well as of course to consider the requirements of other future connectivity technologies. It will also explore the way in which spectrum may be used could evolve as we move towards 6G, and at how technology and policy advances can be used to deliver a forward-looking approach that enables the needs of all emerging new use cases to be met as efficiently as possible.
Amit specialises in advising on complex wireless transactions and strategy projects, including supporting mobile operators with spectrum valuation and regulators with the development and implementation of spectrum policy.
Amit has over 25 years of experience advising fixed and mobile operators, regulators/government bodies, financial institutions and equipment manufacturers on commercial, technical and regulatory issues. He has supported several multi-billion dollar M&A and debt financing transactions and has led numerous high-profile studies in the area of radio spectrum policy. Amit brings a global perspective to his work, having undertaken projects for clients in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas.
Amit holds an M.Sc. in Radio Frequency and Communications Engineering from the University of Bradford, UK and an M.B.A. from the University of Warwick, UK.
Ira Keltz is Deputy Chief of the FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology.
OET is the Commission’s primary resource for engineering expertise and provides technical support to the Chairman, Commissioners and FCC Bureaus and Offices. Mr. Keltz is responsible for developing national spectrum policies for the United States telecommunications industry. This includes allocating spectrum for licensed services, setting technical rules for unlicensed devices, and implementing procedures for equipment certification.
Mr. Keltz has totaled almost 24 years at the FCC spanning two separate stints. In addition to positions in OET, he has held various positions in the Commission’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. Mr. Keltz has also worked for the law firm DLA Piper as well as Loral Advanced Projects and LSA, Inc. He earned a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the George Washington University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan
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Aspa Paroutsas is Vice President of Federal Regulatory Affairs at Qualcomm, and represents Qualcomm before the Federal Communications Commission and other U.S. agencies responsible for spectrum and technology policy. Aspa joined Qualcomm in the Fall of 2021 and prior to that she was a Senior Spectrum Regulatory Advisor for Project Kuiper/Amazon.
Aspa has held several senior positions at the Federal Communications Commission, including Chief of Staff of the Office of Engineering and Technology. She worked on numerous spectrum matters including spectrum allocation decisions that opened new bands for innovative uses in the U.S. Prior to her government service, Aspa worked at a large international law firm handling international and wireless regulatory issues.
Aspa received her J.D., cum laude from the Columbus School of Law, Catholic University of America, her M.Sc. in Public Policy from Queen Mary, University of London and her B.A. from New York University.
Seasoned public policy professional that is knowledgeable about all aspects of federal policy related to communications and technology.
Drafted key elements of the STELA Reauthorization Act (2014), Ray Baum’s Act (2018), Television Viewer Protection Act (2019), Broadband DATA Act (2019), Secure and Trusted Communications Network Act (2019) along with other bills, amendments, and Committee materials.
Skilled at analyzing communications and technology policy issues, including pending regulatory action by the Federal Communications Commission and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and preparing oral and written briefs on those issues.
Helped write FCC regulatory filings and other legal materials for clients in private practice.
Hazem Moakkit is a veteran of the satellite industry, where he has worked for over 22 years in various capacities. He currently serves as the Vice President for Spectrum Development at O3b Networks, where he leads the creation and implementation of O3b’s global spectrum strategy.
Prior to O3b, Hazem spent 5 years at Yahsat in the United Arab Emirates as the Director of Regulatory & Spectrum Affairs, where he successfully created and managed the Spectrum Strategy and led the acquisition of licenses and key orbital assets for the startup operator. He was also instrumental in devising the business strategy for Yahsat.
Early on in his career, Hazem held various engineering and spectrum positions at Intelsat, PanAmSat, and ATCI. Hazem holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Arizona State University, an MBA degree from Georgetown University.
This year has seen the 30th anniversary of the first spectrum auction in the US. Since their introduction, auctions have been a main-stay of licencing and assigning spectrum. They have enabled bandwidth to be allocated in a way which delivers competitive, innovative markets, whilst at the same time generating billions of dollars in revenue for governments. As we approach the end of the ‘cycle’ of 5G auctions however, it seems in some ways that we are at a crossroads when it comes to the future shape of spectrum awards. 6G is expected to see an increasing amount of flexibility and shared licence use, and at the same time, MNOs are seeing revenues falling. This fireside chat will discuss the lessons that can be learnt from 30 years of spectrum auctions, and look forward to explore what the future may hold for spectrum auctions both in the short-term and the long-term. Are auctions still the right tool for spectrum allocation, and if so, what formats are appropriate as we move beyond 5G?
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With a team based in New York City and London, but working around the world, Mr. Marsden’s practice focuses on the design of allocation mechanisms, including:
· auctions and trading design;
· bidding strategy; and
· related competition, pricing, regulatory and public policy.
His work spans multiple industries, including broadcasting, energy, mobile telephony, procurement, radio spectrum and transport.
Many of Mr. Marsden’s recent projects have involved auction design, software implementation and/or bidder support related to the current wave of spectrum awards worldwide. Since 1999, he has provided strategy advice to leading incumbent operators and aspiring entrants in more than 35 spectrum auctions. He was also a lead member of the design team that developed and implemented the combinatorial clock auction, the first practical multi-round package bid format for awarding radio spectrum.
Prior to joining NERA, Mr. Marsden spent 10 years as Director and Managing Consultant at DotEcon, where he was responsible for business development for auctions, public policy, and strategy projects. He managed the project teams supporting the UK regulator Ofcom on digital dividend policy and UK spectrum auctions between 2005 and 2010. He also completed major studies for the European Commission on the allocation of the digital dividend and on spectrum trading and liberalization.
Mr. Marsden presents and publishes frequently on the topics of auctions, the communications industry, and spectrum management and allocation. He is the co-author of a book on broadband regulation (Springer, 2005). He is also an advisor to Forum Global on Spectrum Management conferences in the Americas, Asia and Europe.
Tom Power is the SVP and General Counsel for CTIA since 2015.
Mr. Power served as the U.S. Deputy Chief Technology Officer for Telecommunications in the White House Office of Science and Technology from August 2011 until December 2014. Previously, Mr. Power served as Chief of Staff for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, United States Department of Commerce from April 2009 through August 2011. From 2000 to 2009 Mr. Power was General Counsel for Fiberlink Communications in Blue Bell, Pa. From 1994 until 2000, Mr. Power served at the Federal Communications Commission in several supervisory roles until named Senior Legal Adviser to FCC Chairman William Kennard, where he advised the chairman on broadband, common carrier and mass media matters. Prior to joining the FCC, Mr. Power was a telecommunications and litigation partner at Winston & Strawn.
He has undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Virginia.
The satellite sector is transforming. It is undoubtably in the middle of a period of rapid evolution. New players are disrupting the market, services and delivery methods are evolving, innovative business models (such as direct-to-device) are emerging, and consolidation is sweeping through the sector. In response to this, regulators are working to update regulatory frameworks in order to keep up with the rapid transformation that is being seen. For example, the FCC have taken measures to streamline procedures for licencing satellites and part stations; and in addition earlier this year issued their Supplemental Coverage from Space (SCS) order, making the US the first country in the world to formalise a regulatory framework for satellite-to-mobile direct-to-device services. This session dives into the ongoing transformation that’s being seen in the satellite sector, and look at how it is reshaping connectivity and spectrum needs, including access, utilization, and licensing models. It will look at the policy actions that have been taken in the US around Direct-to-Device and the satellite ecosystem more broadly, as well as plans in this area that are being formulated in Canada and elsewhere across the Americas. How are industry stakeholders and regulators adapting, and what needs to be done going forward to maximise the impact of emerging NTN technologies and to deliver a framework that ensures flexible licensing, continued innovation, and equitable access for all satellites?
Before joining Hogan Lovells, George served as in-house regulatory and transactional counsel for a pioneering nanosatellite company, where he secured satellite, earth station, and remote sensing licenses and negotiated satellite launch and insurance agreements. Other previous stops include the FCC’s International Bureau Satellite Division, where he tackled satellite and earth station licensing and rulemakings, and the Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Chief Counsel, where he undertook commercial space launch, reentry, launch site operation, and other aviation regulation projects.
Outside of work, George actively mentors young lawyers and others interested in space, telecommunications, and technology.
Jennifer has worked on satellite and spectrum regulatory issues at the FCC for over two decades. She most recently served as Assistant Chief of the International Bureau focusing on satellite licensing and rulemakings. She also held several other leadership positions within the International Bureau, including Deputy Chief, of the Strategic Analysis and Negotiations Division, where she managed bilateral spectrum negotiations, as well as serving as Associate Chief of the Satellite Division and Chief of the Satellite Policy Branch in the Satellite Division. She earned her law degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law, and her bachelor’s degree from the University of Delaware.
Mr. Kalpak is currently the Head of Domestic Regulatory Affairs, Project Kuiper, at Amazon. He is a highly accomplished legal executive with demonstrated success delivering on complex business opportunities while managing legal, regulatory, and business risks globally. Team-oriented leader with a strategic and analytical focus, strong transactional, negotiation, and communication skills, and a unique combination of legal and engineering training. Experienced with initial public offerings, mergers, and joint ventures.
Fernando Carrillo has an extensive experience in technical/regulatory aspects on spectrum policy, planning and management, as well as on satellite coordination and licensing; experience acquired during more than 25 years on the telecommunications regulatory field, both as a former official in the telecommunications regulatory entity of Mexico and more recently at Echostar/Hughes, where he is in charge of the development of strategies and policies to guarantee the company’s access to spectrum and orbital resources, as well of the regulatory activities in countries where the company provides services.
In the international arena, Mr. Carrillo has actively participated at ITU and CITEL’s activities, including the World Radio Conferences from 1997 to 2019 and serving as Chair of CITEL’s Permanent Consultative Committee III- Radiocommunications in 2001 and 2002.
Veena is currently working as a Communications Technologies Consultant, providing advisory services to a number of organizations and corporations nationally and internationally. In 2014 she became an Officer of the Order of Canada for her “contributions to telecommunications engineering and for leadership in establishing the global regulatory framework for radio spectrum management”
Between 2011-14, Veena worked as Vice President and Ambassador to ITU for BlackBerry. During 2004-11, she was President of Communications Research Centre, the only Canadian federal government research lab conducting R&D in all communications technologies. Before heading CRC, Veena spent 28 years within the Canadian Government where she held executive positions in managing radio frequency spectrum.
Veena‘ s many “firsts” in her career and her long list of national and international awards include being the first female (and first Canadian as well) ever to chair ITU’s WRC (World Radio Conference) in 2003 for which she was awarded ITU’ s gold medal by the Secretary General.
Ivan Suarez is a global advisor specialising in satellite and spectrum policy and regulation. He assists companies and governments with their strategy, compliance, licensing and policy needs, covering SatComms and other space-related industries. In recent years, he has worked on a vast number of projects related to policy and regulation for D2D products, satellite broadband internet, and the launch of 5G satellite networks. Ivan is actively involved in several regional groups in preparation for WRC-27, focusing on Latin America and Africa. He contributes to several publications such as ViaSatellite and SpaceNews, covering different areas of the New Space Economy. He holds several Masters Degrees in Telecommunications Law and International Relations.
As the digitisation of industry continues, so does the demand for localized private networks in order to deliver the bespoke connectivity that is required in order to best meet the specific use cases of different vertical sectors. A number of different approaches and models are being seen, including shared mechanisms, spectrum set-asides and licensed approaches set up by public mobile operators. This session will look at the pros and cons of the different approaches that are being seen. It will explore specifically the situation across North America, where spectrum in the CBRS and 900MHz bands are amongst the options being considered to meet the needs of different sectors and use cases. What ongoing work is taking place in this area to identify different approaches, models and spectrum bands; what examples of private networks are already being seen; and what will be the long-term shape of private networks across the region?
Speakers to be announced shortly.
An engineer with broad experience in the telecoms and technology sectors, Andy has a particular interest in spectrum (auctions and valuation) and the impact of new technology (5G, AI, IoT and Big Data). He brings a deep understanding of both the industry and regulatory perspectives around the world through his role as Head of Policy for the GSMA and as Director of Spectrum Policy at Ofcom.
Andy spent 12 years at Vodafone, where he held various senior product development and corporate strategy roles. As Head of Spectrum, he was responsible for managing spectrum policy and auctions across the Vodafone Group. He led over twenty spectrum auctions around the world (including Turkey, Italy, Germany, India, Spain, Italy, Greece, Australia, Romania, NL and UK) from strategy/business case development to Plc. Board level sign-off and in-country implementation.
He was formerly a management consultant, has launched an internet payments and encryption company and worked as a research scientist at Sharp Laboratories of Europe and Sony Corporation, based in Japan. He has a doctorate in Engineering Science from Oxford University and an MBA. He is a frequent invited speaker at international conferences.
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Prior to joining the GSMA in 2019, Campbell held roles at AT&T managing corporate communications for the internet of things and prepaid business groups. Prior to AT&T, she worked in public affairs for CTIA in Washington, D.C.
Campbell holds an MBA with a concentration on Strategy and Innovation from Georgia Tech’s Scheller College of Business. She is also a graduate of the University of Missouri with Bachelors’ degrees in Journalism and Sociology.
Jad Berberi is Head of Solutions in the Head of Technology team at Nokia, where his focus is on Technology Strategy, Spectrum and Regulatory.
He has more than 20 years of International and North American Telecom experience focusing on wireless from 2G to 5G.
Before joining Nokia he held many key positions in leading vendors and carriers.
Jad holds a Bachelor of Engineering from the American University of Beirut
Norman has 30 years of experience advising major Telecom, Internet, Technology & Media companies through major transformational programs including strategic new product revenue growth and substantial cost reduction. In addition, he has assisted innovative start-ups looking to scale their businesses and disrupt mature industries/markets. Norman is a Managing Partner at Imagine Wireless, a consulting firm driving digital transformation across the Telecoms and the Industrial sectors. He is also a founder at fonbnk which is a blockchain-based company that tokenizes mobile airtime enabling a new global remittance capability for mobile operators while also enabling an eBay like a marketplace for the purchasing/selling and exchanging of mobile airtime globally for consumers. Norman also currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Alzheimer’s Association. Previously, he was Vice President & Partner at IBM Global Services and a Managing Partner at Accenture where he led the Telecom Network Services Practice.
Efforts are continuing to transition to the next generation of broadcast services. The industry is steadily migrating to ATSC 3.0, the “NextGen” standard launched in 2019, with initiatives like the FCC and NAB’s “Future of Television” pushing for wider adoption. However, another path is emerging with local trials of 5G Broadcast, a new technology standardized by the 3GPP, that allows for broadcast and multicast services over various networks. This session will delve into how both ATSC 3.0 and 5G Broadcast are developing and how there will fit into the next generation broadcast landscape, and into the 5G ecosystem more broadly. It will also look at the how other key users of UHF such as PMSE are also transitioning to next generation technologies, and at what needs to be done to ensure that their future connectivity needs are met, whilst also maximising the efficiency and value of key UHF spectrum.
Stephan Sloan assists clients in a variety of investment banking, brokerage, appraisal, portfolio management, and expert testimony tasks. Mr. Sloan has helped clients obtain more than $100 million in senior debt and brokered the sale of towers and broadcast properties with an aggregate value of more than $200 million. He has appraised or assisted in the appraisal of radio, television, tower, and cable television systems valued in excess of $1 billion for clients that include the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC).
Working with Director Robert J. Maccini in Media Services’ Broadcast Portfolio Group, Mr. Sloan has helped financial institutions with problems in their broadcast and cable loan portfolios and in court-appointed receivership assignments. He has also been accepted in state court as an expert witness on radio station valuation, finance, and receivership matters.
Commissioner Brendan Carr is the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, having served previously as the FCC’s General Counsel. Nominated by both President Trump and President Biden, Carr has been confirmed unanimously by the Senate three times.
Described by Axios as “the FCC’s 5G crusader,” Carr has led the FCC’s work to modernize its infrastructure rules and accelerate the buildout of high-speed networks. His reforms cut billions of dollars in red tape, enabled the private sector to construct high-speed networks in communities across the country, and extended America’s global leadership in 5G.
Commissioner Carr is also focused on expanding America’s skilled workforce—the tower climbers and construction crews needed to build next-gen networks. His jobs initiative promotes community colleges and apprenticeships as a pipeline for good-paying 5G jobs. He is recognizing America’s talented tower crews through a series of “5G Ready” Hard Hat presentations.
Commissioner Carr leads a groundbreaking telehealth initiative at the FCC. The Connected Care Pilot Program supports the delivery of high-quality care to low-income Americans and veterans.
Commissioner Carr’s time outside of Washington helps inform his approach to the job. He regularly hits the road to hear directly from community members and learn how changes in federal policies could help improve their lives.
Commissioner Carr brings nearly 20 years of private and public sector experience in communications and tech policy to his position. Before joining the FCC as a staffer back in 2012, he worked as an attorney at Wiley Rein LLP in the firm’s appellate, litigation, and telecom practices. Previously, Commissioner Carr clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit for Judge Dennis Shedd. After attending Georgetown University for his undergrad, Commissioner Carr earned his J.D. magna cum laude from the Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law where he served as an editor of the Catholic University Law Review.
Commissioner Carr lives in Virginia with his wife and three kids.
Chris Wieczorek is Director, Spectrum Policy, with T-Mobile USA, Inc. He assists in developing competition, spectrum, and technology policy and advising on legal matters pertaining the regulatory policy and procedures. Prior to joining T-Mobile he practiced patent law in Alexandria, Virginia. He also worked as an electrical engineer at Motorola in Atlanta, Georgia and Plantation, Florida.
Chris received a bachelor of science in electrical engineering and a master of science in electrical and computer engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and his juris doctor from the Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law. Chris is a member of the Virginia bar, the Association of Federal Communications Consulting Engineers, and an IEEE and Federal Communications Bar Association member.
Prakash Moorut has been appointed Senior Director of Spectrum and Regulatory Affairs for Shure.
Moorut is responsible for leading Shure’s efforts to advocate for audio professionals as it pertains to industry regulations. He serves as Shure’s point person with regulators, lawmakers, and industry associations, as well as partners with engineering and product management to create a regulatory roadmap that adheres to current and future policies.
Before coming to Shure, Moorut spent more than 10 years with Nokia, most recently serving as Head of Spectrum Standardization, where he led the company’s efforts on global spectrum standardization and policy. He brings additional global regulatory experience from his previous role at Motorola, where he worked for 14 years.
As wireless microphones continue to play an essential role in enabling productions across a wide swath of American life, culture, and the economy, new regulations will impact these areas without audio industry involvement. Beyond the traditional role of wireless microphones in broadcasting and film production, wireless microphones enable productions in a wide range of sectors, including news reporting, theater, music, sports, worship, civic events, transportation infrastructure, and education. Moorut’s new role helps Shure continue to advocate for the people who rely on wireless microphones and related technologies.
Moorut received his Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from Ecole Superieure D’Electricite (SUPELEC), one of France’s leading engineering schools.
Rebecca Hanson joined NABA as Director-General in 2023. An experienced broadcast and media executive, Ms. Hanson has managed numerous policy issues before the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Congress relating to broadcast regulation. While SVP of Policy and Strategy at Sinclair Broadcast Group, she advocated for new video technology, fair compensation for cable carriage, and spectrum protection. She also served as General Counsel for HC2 Broadcasting group overseeing the regulation of 250 full- and low-power television stations.
At the FCC, Ms. Hanson served in a variety of roles, beginning with the first U.S. National Broadband Plan in 2009, the related broadcast spectrum auction planning in 2011, and other broadcast policy issues including the transition to ATSC 3.0. She currently serves on the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission and is on the board of the U.S. NAB Leadership Foundation.
Commissioner Anna M. Gomez is the first Latina-American to be confirmed to the FCC in over two decades. She believes the FCC does best when its work honors the people it serves.
Commissioner Gomez is committed to ensuring we have a vibrant, strong, competitive telecommunications and media marketplace that promotes U.S. economic prosperity and security while also meeting the needs of all consumers.
There is much work to be done to ensure that every person in every community, regardless of geography or income, has access to high-speed broadband. She has experienced the fear of not being able to afford a telephone bill and knows what it means to risk the loss of connection. Ensuring that everyone in rural, Tribal, suburban, and urban communities can get and stay connected is critical to next-century success for us all. As a Latina American, she brings her perspective to the Commission on ways to address the needs of all communities—including the Latino community.
She knows we must be vigilant about protecting consumers. From spam calls and scam texts, to promoting localism and diverse media ownership, to ensuring the internet is open and that consumers can go where they want online without limits, Commissioner Gomez believes consumers’ interests must lead communications policymaking. That also means ensuring our first responders can communicate in times of crisis. Her years of working with public safety leaders and first responders has given her an appreciation of their unique—and vital—communications needs. It also means ensuring our connections are secure and resilient.
Anna brings over 30 years of public and private sector experience in domestic and international communications law and policy to her position. Commissioner Gomez most recently served as a Senior Advisor for International Information and Communications Policy in the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy at the Department of State where she led U.S. preparations for the International Telecommunication Union World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23).
She served as the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Deputy Administrator from 2009 to 2013, where she led efforts that resulted in a new $7 billion public safety broadband network program. She also served for 12 years in various positions at the FCC, including as Deputy Chief of the International Bureau and as Senior Legal Advisor to then-Chairman William E. Kennard. Commissioner Gomez also served briefly as Counsel to the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Subcommittee on Communication, and as Deputy Chief of Staff of the National Economic Council during the Clinton Administration. Prior to joining the State Department in 2023, Commissioner Gomez worked in private practice focusing on telecommunications law.
Born in Orlando, Florida, Commissioner Gomez spent her childhood in Bogota, Colombia before her family relocated to New Jersey. She now resides in Virginia. Commissioner Gomez earned her B.A. in Pre-Law from Pennsylvania State University and her J.D. from George Washington University Law School.
Following the release of the National Spectrum Strategy (NSS) last year, the NTIA published the NSS Implementation Plan (I-Plan) in March of this year, which looked to identify more concretely the next steps and path ahead in the four pillars that have been identified: Spectrum pipeline, Long-term collaborative planning, spectrum access through technology development and workforce development. This session will look at the key objectives that have been set as part of the NSS, the timeframe and targets that have been outlined as part of the I-Plan, and the broad path ahead as the implementation of the strategy begins. With 2,786 MHz of spectrum across 5 different bands identified to be studied for repurposing, in order to help fuel ‘next-generation services’, the session will explore the work that now lies ahead, and the extent to which the NSS can help to meet the objectives that have been set of delivering U.S. leadership in wireless technologies.
Ruth Milkman is a partner in Quadra Partners, LLC, a strategic-advisory firm providing integrated expertise across business, finance, and public policy in the context of converging communications technologies.
Ms. Milkman served as the Chief of Staff of the Federal Communications Commission from 2013-2017 and Chief of the FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau between 2009 and 2013. From 1998-2009 she worked as one of the leading telecommunications lawyers in Washington as co-founder of Lawler, Metzger, Milkman and Keeney, a firm serving clients ranging from start-ups to large established telecommunications companies and private-equity firms. Before joining Lawler, Metzger, Ms. Milkman held a variety of senior positions at the FCC, including Senior Legal Advisor to Chairman Reed Hundt and Deputy Chief of the International and Common Carrier Bureaus.
Ms. Milkman has a B.A. from Harvard University and a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School. She served as a clerk for the Honorable J. Harvie Wilkinson III on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
Jonathan joins the office from the Office of Economics and Analytics, where he served as Chief of the Auctions Division. Previously, Jonathan served as Acting Special Counsel to the Office Chief, legal advisor to the Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, and attorney-advisor in the Bureau’s Broadband Division. Prior to joining the Commission, Jonathan was Director of Government Affairs at the Wireless Infrastructure Association. He earned a B.S. in Communications from Boston University and a J.D. and certificate in communications law from the Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law and its Law and Technology Institute.
As President of SIA, Tom Stroup is the trade association’s lead advocate for regulatory and policy issues of critical importance to SIA’s membership, including spectrum and licensing issues, defense and public safety matters, and export control and international trade issues. He also manages the day-to-day operations of SIA, including member communications, staff leadership and organization of SIA sponsored events.
Prior to joining SIA, Mr. Stroup was with Shared Spectrum Company (SSC), a leading developer of spectrum intelligence technologies, where he served as CEO. For more than a decade, he served as the President of the Personal Communications Industry Association (PCIA). Previous to his position at SSC, he founded and ran several companies in the technology industry, including Columbia Spectrum Management, P-Com Network Services, CSM Wireless, and SquareLoop.
Umair Javed serves as Senior Vice President and General Counsel. He joined CTIA in 2023 as Senior Vice President, Spectrum, where he was responsible for advancing the wireless industry’s spectrum priorities both domestically and internationally.
Prior to joining CTIA, Umair influenced global and domestic law and policy as Chief Counsel to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. He served as the FCC designee on President Biden’s Competition Council, led the FCC’s National Security Policy Council, and represented the agency at international treaty-writing conferences. During his time at the FCC, Umair also crafted the FCC’s Spectrum Coordination Initiative, oversaw the third-highest grossing spectrum auction in FCC history, coordinated the deployment of 5G services in the C-band, and partnered with Congress on passage and FCC implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act, and Secure Equipment Act.
From October 2017 to January 2019, Umair served as Legal Advisor, Wireless and International in the Office of FCC Commissioner Rosenworcel. He joined the FCC from Wiley Rein LLP, where he was an attorney in the firm’s Telecom, Media, and Technology Group.
Umair was named to the inaugural Lawyers of Color Hot List. He is also a 2021 HTTP “Tech Innovadores” recipient and the 2023 Public Safety Communications Leadership in Regulatory Service award recipient for his service at the FCC.
Umair has a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law and a bachelor of arts in Political Philosophy, Policy, and Law from the University of Virginia. He is a member of the bar in the District of Columbia and Virginia. Umair also is a volunteer firefighter in Loudoun County, Virginia.
Alan Norman joined Meta’s connectivity policy team in 2016 and actively supports Meta’s Spectrum and Connectivity initiatives. Alan is a long-time advocate for improved broadband and internet access, shared infrastructure, and spectrum for next generation technologies. Recently Alan has been engaged on spectrum for AR/VR, Wi-Fi, UWB and 5G with a focus on enabling the Metaverse.
Alan holds a BS in Mathematical Sciences from Stanford University and an MS in Management from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business where he was a Sloan Fellow.
Biswese joins NCTA from Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook) where she served as Associate General Counsel, Telecom & Regulatory. In this position, she worked with network infrastructure and connectivity teams to navigate domestic and international telecommunications, competition, and data protection and privacy laws and regulations concerning terrestrial and submarine cable networks, new terrestrial and non-terrestrial connectivity solutions, metaverse-ready networks, and next-generation OTT services.
Before joining Meta, Biswese was Senior Counsel with RingCentral where she led on U.S. and international regulatory and legal matters concerning VoIP service. She previously was an associate with Harris, Wiltshire & Grannis (HWG), and a law clerk to the Honorable Curtis V. Gómez in the United States District Court for the Virgin Islands.
Biswese received her J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School, where she was Notes Editor for the Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment and Technology Law, and her M.B.A. from Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School of Management. She received her B.A. magna cum laude from Clark Atlanta University.
Almost a year has now passed since the crucial World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-23) in Dubai. Stakeholders across the US and the Americas have had time to reflect on the decisions that were taken on key agenda items, assess their impact, and consider the next steps. This session will take the opportunity to look back on the conference, to examine the key objectives that were set by the US and the wider Americas region (through CITEL), and the extent to which these were met. It will then look forward to WRC-27, and with the second CITEL PCC.II meeting being held a week before this conference, discuss the positions that are emerging and the significant topics that will likely dominate discussions over the next 4 years. It will ask if there are any lessons that can be taken from the experiences at WRC-23 and look at what preparation already needs to begin to ensure a successful ‘cycle’ for the region this time around.
Matt Pearl most recently served as Director and Special Advisor for Emerging Technologies at the White House National Security Council, where he focused on technology and telecommunications issues, including spectrum policy, Open RAN, 5G, and IoT; global standards setting; cybersecurity of telecom networks; and data security. Immediately before serving at the NSC, Matt was an Associate Bureau Chief at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). At the FCC, he was responsible for managing numerous spectrum transitions, including 3450-3550 MHz, 3.5 GHz/CBRS, 3.7-4.2 GHz (C-Band), and several millimeter waves bands. He also managed many of the Bureau’s nearly two million spectrum licenses. From 2014 until 2020, Matthew was a Research Affiliate at the Berkman-Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University, where he was part of an effort to advance mesh network technologies, and to evaluate the legal, policy, and technological issues that are raised by the adoption of such networks.
In 2010, Matthew earned a J.D. at Yale Law School, where he served as a submission’s editor for the Yale Journal on Regulation. Before joining the FCC, he worked as a law clerk for Judge Harris Hartz of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Prior to that, he was a law clerk for Judge Lawrence Kahn of the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York.
Veena is currently working as a Communications Technologies Consultant, providing advisory services to a number of organizations and corporations nationally and internationally. In 2014 she became an Officer of the Order of Canada for her “contributions to telecommunications engineering and for leadership in establishing the global regulatory framework for radio spectrum management”
Between 2011-14, Veena worked as Vice President and Ambassador to ITU for BlackBerry. During 2004-11, she was President of Communications Research Centre, the only Canadian federal government research lab conducting R&D in all communications technologies. Before heading CRC, Veena spent 28 years within the Canadian Government where she held executive positions in managing radio frequency spectrum.
Veena‘ s many “firsts” in her career and her long list of national and international awards include being the first female (and first Canadian as well) ever to chair ITU’s WRC (World Radio Conference) in 2003 for which she was awarded ITU’ s gold medal by the Secretary General.
Luigi Ardito is currently working as Director of government affairs for Europe, Middle East and North Africa at Qualcomm and drives the Qualcomm spectrum and regulatory policy agenda in Europe and MENA dealing with various government entities and industry organizations.
Prior to joining Qualcomm, Luigi worked for over a decade at Sony Corporation both in Japan and in the UK. Luigi also gained professional experience at France Telecom and at the Italian Public Broadcaster RAI.
Luigi has extensive experience in the Media and Telecom industry as well as the Semiconductor Industry gained through his assignments at Qualcomm, Sony, France Telecom and RAI. He holds an Electronic Engineering Degree gained at the Politecnico di Torino in Italy and a Master of Business Administration gained at the Henley Management College in the UK.
Martha Suarez was born in Bucaramanga, Colombia. She received her degree as Electronics Engineer from the Universidad Industrial de Santander in 2004. During her undergraduate studies, she participated in an exchange program with the Ecole Superieure Chimie Physique Electronique de Lyon, France, in 2001. She received her master’s degree in high frequency communication systems from the University of Marne-la-Vallee, France, in 2006 and her Ph.D. degree from the University Paris-Est in 2009. She joined the department of Telecommunications and Signal Processing at the École Supérieure d’Ingénieurs en Électronique et Électrotechnique de Paris ESIEE and the Esycom Research Center, where she worked on wireless transmitter architectures. In 2011, she was awarded with a Marie Curie Fellowship and worked at the Instytut Technologii Elektronowej ITE in Poland for the Partnership for Cognitive Radio (Par4CR) European Project. Her research interests were in the areas of wireless system architectures and the design of high performance Radio Frequency (RF) transceivers.
In 2013, she joined the National Spectrum Agency in Colombia, ANE, where she worked as Senior Adviser to the General Director and supported the international activities of the Agency. Afterwards, in December 2015, she became the General Director of ANE and continued promoting the efficient use of the Spectrum and the mobile broadband connectivity in Colombia.
Since the 1st of May 2019, Martha Suarez has been the President of the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance DSA, a global organization advocating for laws and regulations that will lead to more efficient and effective spectrum utilization, which is essential to addressing key worldwide social and economic challenges.
The focus of the opening two sessions of this conference has been on the national spectrum strategy and WRC-23, both of which are expected to play a big part in shaping the future spectrum environment, despite coming from different angles. Whilst the NSS focusses specifically on domestic challenges and requirements; the purpose of WRC-23 is to foster regional and global coordination, to avoid cross-border interference and to unlock benefits that will come as part of this. This highlights one of the major challenges for national regulators – to find the balance between the need to move quickly and take decisions based on specific national requirements, whilst also working alongside international partners to coordinate policy decisions and approaches. This session will discuss this in detail and look at the approach taken in recent years, the trends that are being seen today, and where the balance lies in delivering a spectrum strategy that maintains a position of global leadership.
With a team based in New York City and London, but working around the world, Mr. Marsden’s practice focuses on the design of allocation mechanisms, including:
· auctions and trading design;
· bidding strategy; and
· related competition, pricing, regulatory and public policy.
His work spans multiple industries, including broadcasting, energy, mobile telephony, procurement, radio spectrum and transport.
Many of Mr. Marsden’s recent projects have involved auction design, software implementation and/or bidder support related to the current wave of spectrum awards worldwide. Since 1999, he has provided strategy advice to leading incumbent operators and aspiring entrants in more than 35 spectrum auctions. He was also a lead member of the design team that developed and implemented the combinatorial clock auction, the first practical multi-round package bid format for awarding radio spectrum.
Prior to joining NERA, Mr. Marsden spent 10 years as Director and Managing Consultant at DotEcon, where he was responsible for business development for auctions, public policy, and strategy projects. He managed the project teams supporting the UK regulator Ofcom on digital dividend policy and UK spectrum auctions between 2005 and 2010. He also completed major studies for the European Commission on the allocation of the digital dividend and on spectrum trading and liberalization.
Mr. Marsden presents and publishes frequently on the topics of auctions, the communications industry, and spectrum management and allocation. He is the co-author of a book on broadband regulation (Springer, 2005). He is also an advisor to Forum Global on Spectrum Management conferences in the Americas, Asia and Europe.
Artur Coimbra de Oliveira has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Law from UnB, with an MBA in Business Management from Fundação Getúlio Vargas. He has been a member of the Federal Prosecutor’s Office since 2007, having previously been a Regulatory Specialist at Anatel. He served as an advisor to the Specialized Federal Prosecutor’s Office of Anatel and to the Presidency of the Republic. He was Director of Broadband at the Ministry of Communications and Secretary of Telecommunications from 2011 to 2022. During this period, he participated in the group formulating the National Broadband Program, chaired the Steering Committee of the Geostationary Defense and Strategic Communications Satellite project and He was a member of the Anatel Advisory Board.
Pascale Dumit is Director for International Spectrum Policy at T-Mobile. She leads the company’s engagements at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and within other regional organizations such as the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL).
Pascale has served on U.S. delegations to the ITU since 2010, including the U.S. delegations to the 2022 Plenipotentiary Conference and the 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference.
Pascale is also a member of the FCC 2027 ITU World Radiocommunication Conference Advisory Committee, a member of the Department of State International Digital Economy and Telecommunication Advisory Committee, a Co-Chair of the Federal Communications Bar Association (FCBA) International Telecommunications Committee and a Vice-Chair of the U.S. ITU Association.
Pascale’s previous experience includes various roles in the Space industry in addition to supporting NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense on a broad range of international spectrum management issues where she served as a key contributor to the overall development and implementation of U.S. strategy in national and international spectrum regulatory environments.
Pascale holds BS and MS degrees in Electrical Engineering from The George Washington University.
Jeffrey Marks is Vice President, Global Technology Policy and Regulatory Affairs for Nokia. In that role, Jeff develops and presents Nokia’s legal and policy positions to officials at all levels of government. Jeff advocates on a wide range of issues, including spectrum policy, broadband deployment, net neutrality/net governance, “smart” infrastructure, and network security.
With its balance of speed, capacity, coverage, and penetration for cellular wireless networks, mid-band spectrum is crucial for 5G. Given its early focus on mmWave frequencies for 5G rollout, the US was initially playing catch-up when it came to making sufficient mid-band, but a big push has subsequently taken place to free up additional bandwidth in ranges such as the C-band and CBRS. So where does the US stand now? This session will discuss how much spectrum is now available for the continued growth of IMT, how this compares to other countries in the Americas and to other regions, and at whether the right balance has been reached in the band when it comes to making spectrum available for different users and uses.
Armand Musey President and Founder of Summit Ridge Group. He has over 15 years of equity research, investment banking, and consulting experience.
Armand has completed dozens of financial valuation, strategic analysis, business development, corporate governance, and business plan creation assignments in the communications industry and has experience working on numerous financing and M&A transactions. His projects include leading Summit Ridge Group’s support of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust division’s review of the proposed T-Mobile/Sprint merger. Armand’s involvement with a wide breadth of companies has allowed him to develop a deep understanding of a range of media and telecom issues and the complex web of relationships underlying the sector’s competitive dynamics and associated regulatory issues. His legal background allows him to understand the heavily regulated telecom sector. During litigation support assignments, Armand’s legal background also allows him to quickly digest legal documents and identify industry issues likely to be most relevant to the legal team he supports.
Prior to founding Summit Ridge Group, Armand led the satellite industry research teams for Banc of America Securities, and later Solomon Smith Barney where he also covered the wireless tower industry. He earned numerous honors as a research analyst including being named to the Institutional Investor “All American” team three times (2000-2002) and the Wall Street Journal “All-Star” team. He was ranked as the top satellite industry analyst by Greenwich Associates. He was previously president of a boutique investment bank specializing in the satellite, media, and telecom industries.
Armand regularly speaks at major industry conferences and has been frequently quoted in leading trade publications and by national publications as an expert in communications finance and corporate governance. He authored the highly regarded publication The Spectrum Handbook 2018 and his recent industry research has been published in leading law journals. Armand is a member of the Federal Communications Bar Association (FCBA) and is a co-chair of its New York chapter (2016-present). He is also a member of the New York Society of Securities Analysts where he chaired the Corporate Governance Committee from 2007-2009 (vice-chair 2005-2007), the CFA Institute and the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) where he serves on the board of its New York Chapter (2017-2019), and the American Bankruptcy Institute.
Armand’s interests include classical music, post-modern philosophy, and mountain climbing. He served on the board of the Riverside Symphony (2008-2010) and as treasurer of the board of the Foucault Society (2005-2009). He is also a member of the National Arts Club. In 2008, Armand completed a longtime goal of climbing the highest peak on each of the seven continents (the “Seven Summits”), with a successful ascent of Mt. Everest.
Ira Keltz is Deputy Chief of the FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology.
OET is the Commission’s primary resource for engineering expertise and provides technical support to the Chairman, Commissioners and FCC Bureaus and Offices. Mr. Keltz is responsible for developing national spectrum policies for the United States telecommunications industry. This includes allocating spectrum for licensed services, setting technical rules for unlicensed devices, and implementing procedures for equipment certification.
Mr. Keltz has totaled almost 24 years at the FCC spanning two separate stints. In addition to positions in OET, he has held various positions in the Commission’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. Mr. Keltz has also worked for the law firm DLA Piper as well as Loral Advanced Projects and LSA, Inc. He earned a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the George Washington University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan
Chris Woolford is Ofcom’s Director of International Spectrum Policy where his responsibilities cover the UK’s international spectrum interests, especially in relation to the ITU, CEPT and EU. He is a member of Ofcom’s Spectrum Executive Team and Strategy Steering Group.
Chris is active in various European spectrum committees and currently represents the UK on the Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG). He has closely engaged for the UK on a number of key European and international spectrum initiatives and led the UK delegations to WRC-15 and WRC-12.
Before joining Ofcom, Chris worked in various UK Government Departments, including 6 years at Oftel, where he worked on different aspects of telecommunications regulation. Chris has a degree in mathematics and statistics from Manchester University.
Vice President, Federal Regulatory, AT&T. Current responsibilities include all of AT&T’s wireless and spectrum related-matters before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Instrumental in development and promotion of AT&T’s positions on auctions. Significant experience in the process of obtaining FCC approval for a variety of transactions and license transfers. Significant experience in proceedings involving reform of intercarrier compensation and universal service. Extensive experience in the FCC’s unending net neutrality proceedings.
Previously served as AT&T’s representative on the North American Numbering Council, a Federal Advisory Committee that advises the FCC on telephone numbering issues. From 2007-2011, Member of the Board of Directors for the Wireless Communications Association International. Member of the Board of Directors for the National Exchange Carrier Association.
From 1996-2004, Director Law and Public Policy for MCI. Worked on most of the major proceedings to implement the Telecommunications Act of 1996, including implementation of the provisions related to network unbundling, universal service, local number portability, and Bell Operating Company entry into long distance services.
Fabiano Chaves is Nokia’s Head of Spectrum Standardization for North America, responsible for defining and executing Nokia’s spectrum strategy, including standardization and policy work with customers, in industry groups and with national and international regulatory bodies, such as the FCC and the ITU. He has been Nokia’s primary representative in the FCC’s WRC Advisory committee (WAC) for WRC-23 and WRC-27. He also serves as Spectrum Working Group Vice Chair in the ATIS Next G Alliance.
Fabiano has over 20 years of experience in telecommunications, with activities spanning from research on wireless systems and networks (3G, 4G, 5G, Wi-Fi) to spectrum research, strategy, regulation and standardization. He has been continuously contributing to ITU and other research/regulation/standardization bodies on overall radio system aspects of the International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT), radio propagation, and sharing and compatibility between IMT and other systems.
He is co-author of 40+ papers in top-tier journals and conferences and 15+ patents. He received his Ph.D. degree in telecommunications from the Ecole Normale Supérieure de Cachan (ENS-Cachan, France) and the University of Campinas (Unicamp, Brazil), and his Master’s degree in teleinformatics engineering from the Federal University of Ceará (UFC, Brazil).
Tim is the Chairman and Executive Director for the Ultra Wide Band (UWB) Alliance. The Alliance is dedicated to developing interoperable specifications for UWB products and coexistence strategies for sharing spectrum with other RF devices and services. Tim is also the Chairman for the IEEE 802.15.4z Task Group as well as Vice Chairman of ETSI TGUWB. Tim is a long-standing advocate of standardization to expand markets.
Previously, Tim was Vice President of Hardware Product Strategy at Zebra Location Solutions Group, the leading developer and manufacturer of Real-Time Locating Systems, (RTLS). He directed hardware product management for the Zebra RTLS products including the WhereNet, Dart UWB, and GPS enabled product lines.
Tim served 16 years as VP of Product Strategy for WhereNet (acquired by Zebra) which introduced the first commercially available RTLS products. Prior to joining WhereNet, Tim directed Product Management for Symbol, where his team coauthored the first release of IEEE 802.11, and formed the Wi-Fi Alliance. An engineer with an EE degree from SUNY Stonybrook, Tim also spent several years developing software and hardware for Symbol.
A patent holder, Mr. Harrington is credited with developing new concepts in the areas of bar code scanning, wireless LANs, and RTLS technology. He has written many articles concerning RF and Auto ID technologies.
Earlier this year, a major set of enhancements were made to the 3-tiered sharing model that is used within the CBRS band. ‘CBRS 2.0’ has been heralded by proponents as a major step forward, with greater performance, reliability, and reduced interference being promised. The session will look at the changes that have been applied, and the impact that they could have on the usability and value of this key mid-band spectrum for all of the users in the band. With critics saying to-date that the level of use in the band by mobile use has been relatively low, partly due to the disruption from incumbent military activities in the identified Dynamic Protection Areas (DPAs), to what extent can these new changes address these issues and what will this mean for the future use of the band?
Jessica Quinley is an Assistant Bureau Chief in the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC). She joined the FCC in 2019, having previously served as an Attorney Advisor in the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Ms. Quinley leads a wide range of FCC spectrum proceedings, including the adoption of new rules governing direct connections from satellites to wireless devices and the oversight of the Citizens Broadband Radio Service. Ms. Quinley also plays a significant role in U.S. government interagency spectrum management, having served as the FCC representative to the Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee, which advises NTIA on a broad range of spectrum policy issues, and having worked to update the FCC and NTIA’s Memorandum of Understanding on spectrum coordination processes.
Justin Markle serves as Head of Wireless Partnerships & Development at Comcast Corporation, where he leads commercial wireless activities, manages Comcast’s wireless spectrum portfolio, and is responsible for developing new wireless offerings for the company.
Justin previously served as Chief Financial Officer for FreeWheel, an advertising technology company acquired by Comcast, where he led global business operations to help deliver 10x revenue growth. He also worked in Comcast’s Corporate Development group, where he executed over 30 transactions representing nearly $40 billion in deal value for Comcast and NBCUniversal across the media, software, and telecom sectors.
Prior to joining Comcast, Justin held positions at Citigroup in New York City and at PA Consulting Group in Washington, DC. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Duke University and his Masters in Business Administration degree from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Justin resides in the Philadelphia area with his wife and three daughters.
Patrick Welsh joined Verizon in January 2012 as Assistant Vice President – Wireless Policy Development, where he is engaged in the development of Verizon’s public policy positions on spectrum and other wireless issues.
Prior to joining Verizon, Patrick worked in T-Mobile’s government affairs office in both the federal regulatory and legislative affairs groups. As a regulatory attorney, Patrick was responsible for a number of wireless public-policy issues, including spectrum policy, spectrum auctions, voice and data roaming, wireless open access/network neutrality, broadband reclassification, smart grid, mergers and acquisitions, and federal preemption of state regulations. As part of T-Mobile’s legislative team, he lobbied both Democrats and Republicans on the House and Senate commerce committees. Prior to joining T-Mobile, Patrick worked at American Tower, where he managed site development and construction of wireless communications facilities in the Mid-Atlantic area.
Patrick began his career at Gallagher, Evelius & Jones, LLP as an associate with the firm’s commercial transactions group. He is an adjunct professor at Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law and a graduate of Syracuse University College of Law (J.D.) and Loyola College (B.A.).
Chantal Davis is Director of Regulatory Policy at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. In her current role, she is responsible for developing plans and policies related to spectrum use and spectrum auctions.
In her over 20-year career at ISED, Ms Davis has been responsible for domestic and international spectrum planning, engineering and standards related to mobile communications including broadband, public safety, engineering practices for interference management and land mobile radio.
She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Ottawa.
As the demands of our hyper-connected world outpace the availability of traditional spectrum, spectrum sharing is set to become increasingly part of the connectivity landscape. However, sharing always means a compromise of some kind – there are always technical and regulatory challenges to overcome, and restrictions or limits of some kind need to be put into place in order to ensure the protection of all users from harmful interference. The trick is to ensure that even with these compromises, sharing still leads to a ‘win-win’ scenario for the players involved and ensures that the overall value of the spectrum being shared is maximised. This session will look at the increasing importance that spectrum sharing will play in meeting future connectivity requirements, and at how technological and regulatory advances can help to ultimately deliver a successful sharing environment. It will explore different sharing models and techniques, including dynamic access, cognitive radio technologies, licensed shared access models, geographic sharing and unlicensed models like CBRS (including its new iteration ‘CBRS 2.0’, discussed in the previous session); and explore models for both sharing between different commercial users and also between commercial and federal users. How successful has spectrum sharing been to date, what lessons have been learnt, and what needs to be done to ensure sharing of spectrum results in a ‘win-win’ and not a ‘lose-lose’ scenario?
Paul Kirby is a Senior Editor at Wolters Kluwer’s TRA Daily. He has been a reporter for more than 30 years. For more than 20 years, he has focused his coverage on wireless telecommunications policy, closely following regulatory and legal developments amid the rapid evolution of the telecom and technology businesses. He covers the FCC, Capitol Hill, the executive branch, and the courts. Paul’s extensive experience and specialized knowledge make him widely recognized in Washington regulatory circles as an expert on wireless policy issues. He is often asked to moderate panels at industry conferences and has appeared frequently on C-SPAN. Before joining TR Daily, Paul worked at Reuters, at a regional news service in Washington, and at newspapers in Florida and Virginia.
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