Policy Priorities and Possibilities for the Biden FCC

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When: Thursday, December 10, 2020 at 11:00 am to 12:15pm ET via Zoom

As the nation turns the corner on a dramatic election season, attention now turns to policy priorities and possibilities for the incoming Biden-Harris Administration. Concerning issues ranging from curbing the pandemic to righting the U.S. economy will likely dominate the new President’s immediate agenda, but soon attention will turn to the agencies best positioned to help the new Administration realize its vision for a connected America.

On Thursday, December 10, 2020, the Georgetown Center for Business and Public Policy led a robust discussion of the expected desires and political realities facing the Federal Communications Commission in 2021. The FCC is one of the key federal agencies expected to play a pivotal role in addressing the country’s digital infrastructure challenges, a consistent priority for the Biden team.

This virtual event featured a fireside chat with two prominent, former FCC Chiefs of Staff, immediately followed by a panel of FCC and DC experts who offered their views on what the FCC’s top policy priorities are likely to be in the coming year, and the likelihood of success.

Fireside Chat led by John Mayo, Georgetown Center for Business and Public Policy with:

  • Blair Levin, former FCC Chief of Staff for Democratic FCC Chairman Reed Hundt
  • Bryan Tramont, former FCC Chief of Staff for Republican FCC Chairman Michael Powell

A panel discussion with telecommunications experts, hosted by Carolyn Brandon, Georgetown Center for Business and Public Policy, followed. Panelists included:

  • Nathan Leamer, Vice President of Public Affairs, Targeted Victory; former Policy Advisor to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, Federal Communications Commission
  • Mike Saperstein, Vice President for Law and Policy, US Telecom (in place of Allison Remsen, Executive Vice President, US Telecom)
  • Gigi Sohn, Distinguished Fellow, Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law & Policy; Senior Fellow and Public Advocate, Benton Institute for Broadband & Society