WASHINGTON, D.C. — The FCC’s newly created Office of International Affairs has announced its leadership team. They’ll oversee an office that will lead and coordinate the FCC’s overseas efforts, including its participation in the upcoming World Radiocommunications Conference, cross-border negotiations, foreign ownership and national security reviews, and licensing of submarine cables and international telecommunications services.
“The establishment of the Office of International Affairs was a recognition by the Commission of the need for a global perspective across all of the agency’s work,” said Ethan Lucarelli, Chief of the Office of International Affairs. “I am pleased to announce the leadership team for the new Office. Each member enhances our ability to play a key role in the development of international telecommunications policy and to facilitate competition and security in the communications marketplace.”
The front-office team includes Jared Carlson, Neşe Guendelsberger, and Thomas Sullivan as Deputy Chiefs; Michele Wu-Bailey as Assistant Chief and Chief of Staff; Kathryn O’Brien (on detail) and Kathleen Collins as Assistant Chiefs; Olga Madruga-Forti as Special Counsel; Edward Carlson as Senior Legal Advisor; Sarah Van Valzah as Assistant Chief for Management; and Juliana Concepcion as a Telecommunications Support Specialist.
The Office is also supported by its leadership from its two divisions.
The Telecommunications and Analysis Division is led by Denise Coca as Chief, Francis Gutierrez as Deputy Chief, and David Krech as Assistant Chief. The Global Strategies and Negotiation Division is led by David Hu as Acting Chief, Roxanne McElvane-Webber as Deputy Chief, and Brandon Moss and Larry Olsen as Assistant Chiefs; Dante Ibarra as Chief of the International Radiocommunication Branch; James McLuckie as Chief of the Cross Border Negotiation and Treaty Compliance Branch; and Alicia Tambe as Chief of the Multilateral and Regional Affairs Branch.
The Office of International Affairs is responsible for the Commission’s engagement of foreign and international regulatory authorities, including multilateral and regional organizations. Through rulemaking and licensing, OIA also facilitates the Commission’s development of policies regarding international telecommunications facilities and services as well as submarine cables, and advises and makes recommendations to the Commission on foreign ownership and national security issues. OIA also is responsible for intergovernmental leadership, negotiation, and international and inter-agency representational functions. OIA oversees and coordinates the FCC’s global participation in international and multilateral conferences, regional organizations, cross-border negotiations, and international standard setting efforts. OIA also oversees bilateral meetings with other countries and foreign government officials.
