Former FCC Commish to Head CTIA

May 6, 2014

Wireless trade association CTIA announced that industry veteran and former FCC commissioner Meredith Attwell Baker will take the reins of the trade group effective June 2. Baker will replace current CTIA President and CEO Steve Largent, who announced his retirement plans last October.

Baker had previously served as director of congressional affairs at CTIA between 1998 and 2000. She also served two years as a commissioner at the FCC from 2009 to 2011. After which, she joined Comcast’s Washington lobbying office.

Baker’s government service also includes a stint as Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and as Acting Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

Perhaps highlighting the slide CTIA has felt over the past several years, Baker noted plans to bring a new focus for the trade organization. “I plan to bring new ideas and new initiatives to the association that will take it from good to great. We will recruit and keep the best and brightest experts in spectrum and wireless communications,” Baker said. “CTIA must be the go-to organization on wireless issues for both industry and government.”