Comcast Names Former FCC Commissioner Rachelle Chong as Regional Vice President of Government Affairs for California
Apr 28, 2011, 01:00 ET
LIVERMORE, Calif., April 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Comcast has named former Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Commissioner Rachelle Chong as Regional Vice President of Government Affairs for California, it was announced today by Curt Henninger, Regional Senior Vice President for Comcast California. Chong will report directly to Henninger, and will oversee all aspects of Comcast's governmental affairs activities, as well as all cable and telecommunications policy matters, throughout the state. She will be based in the company's Livermore, California office, and replaces Johnnie Giles who was recently named Executive Director of External Affairs at Comcast's corporate headquarters in Philadelphia.
"Rachelle has a proven track record as a prominent telecommunications lawyer, fair regulator and a motivational leader," said Henninger. "Her understanding of technology and 'hands on' management style, combined with her creative approach to the ever-evolving world of communications and her life-long ties to California, make her the perfect choice for this role."
Chong has the distinct honor of being the first Asian American to serve as a FCC Commissioner and the first Asian American CPUC Commissioner. She was appointed to the FCC by President Clinton in May, 1994, and served on the FCC until November, 1997. While at the FCC, Chong worked on the implementation of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, digital television transition rules, children's television, the first spectrum auction rules, and services rules for many new wireless services.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed her to the CPUC in January, 2006 and she was reappointed in December, 2008. At the CPUC, Chong led broadband initiatives and regulatory reform in the communications area, including implementation of the state's first video franchise law. She also led the CPUC's smart grid, electric vehicle, demand response and dynamic pricing energy initiatives.
Following her stint at the FCC and prior to joining the CPUC, Chong served as a partner with the International law firm of Coudert Brothers in San Francisco and Palo Alto, leading its West Coast Telecommunications and Internet Practice Group. She then went on to serve as the General Counsel & Vice President, Government Relations of Broadband Office, Inc., a Kleiner Perkins-funded broadband, communications, and applications service provider start up. In that role, Chong was responsible for a 14-person Legal and Government Affairs team, Human Resources and Real Estate Operations Department.
After her CPUC service, Chong was appointed by the Governor to be Special Counsel, Advanced Information and Communications Technologies, for the California Technology Agency. In this capacity, she led broadband, digital literacy, and public safety communications initiatives for the state, and advocated before the Federal Communications Commission, the Department of Commerce, and Congress on communications policy matters.
Chong brings 27 years of experience to her new position. She began her career in 1984 practicing communications law before the Federal Communications Commission and the California Public Utilities Commission with the law firms of Kadison Pfaelzer in Washington D.C. and Graham & James in San Francisco. In 1991, Chong became a partner at Graham & James. Her clients included broadcasters as well as cellular phone and paging companies.
Chong serves as a Board Member of California Telehealth Network (CTN) and is the Chair of the Panel of Expert Advisors for California Emerging Technology Fund. She is also co-Chair of the Federal Communications Bar Association, Northern California Chapter.
A native of Stockton, California, Chong is a member of the California State Bar. She is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate from UC Berkeley and received her law degree from UC Hastings College of the Law. Chong lives in San Francisco, is married, and has two school age children.
About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (www.comcast.com) is one of the nation's leading providers of entertainment, information and communications products and services. Comcast is principally involved in the operation of cable systems through Comcast Cable and in the development, production and distribution of entertainment, news, sports and other content for global audiences through NBCUniversal. Comcast Cable is one of the nation's largest video, high-speed Internet and phone providers to residential and business customers. Comcast is the majority owner and manager of NBCUniversal, which owns and operates entertainment and news cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, local television station groups, television production operations, a major motion picture company and theme parks.
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