In May, Larry Strickling ’76 was confirmed as assistant secretary for Communications and Information, Department of Commerce, by the Senate Commerce Committee. As head of the National Telecommunications & Information Administration, he oversees billions of dollars in broadband rollout grants and the DTV-to-analog converter box coupon program. Through the secretary of commerce, the assistant secretary is the President’s principal adviser on telecommunications policy.
A technology policy expert with more than 20 years of experience in the public and private sectors, Strickling previously served as policy coordinator for Obama for America, where he oversaw domestic policy committees and was responsible for technology and telecommunications issues.
Prior to joining the campaign, he was chief regulatory and chief compliance officer at Broadwing Communications. He also served in senior roles at Allegiance Telecom and CoreExpress, Inc., and as a member of the board of directors of Network Plus. In the public sector, Strickling served at the Federal Communications Commission as chief of the Common Carrier Bureau, and prior to this was associate general counsel and chief of the FCC’s Competition Division. While at the FCC, he developed and enforced rules to foster competition and protect consumers in the telecommunications marketplace.
In addition to his J.D. from Harvard Law School, Strickling holds a degree in economics from the University of Maryland, where he serves on the board of visitors. He also serves as chairman of the board of trustees at the University of Chicago’s Court Theatre and on the board of directors of Music of the Baroque in Chicago.