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Red Hat Seeks Washington Lobbyist
by Ted LeventhalRed Hat, a North Carolina-based provider of the Linux computer-operating system and other "open source" software, is in the market for lobbyists and has held talks with some of the larger firms in town, according to sources.
Tom Rabon, Red Hat's executive vice president for corporate affairs, confirmed the news to National Journal's Technology Daily, saying that the company has been in discussions with lobbying firms and would make a final decision about representation in a month.
"We've talked to several firms but haven't done anything yet," Rabon said. "We are looking for some assistance that will help us have a presence in and around Washington."
Red Hat currently belongs to several technology trade associations, including the Computer and Communications Industry Association. Rabon said that while the company is pleased with the assistance it has received from those groups, as a growing company it needs more representation in Washington. "We're trying to grow up a bit," he said. "We're just a small company of 616, but as we grow, we've got to do the things that our customers expect of us."
Elsewhere on the lobbying front, federal disclosure records indicate that former Rep. Ronald Dellums registered last Thursday to lobby for AT&T on telecommunications, and Ryan Phillips Utrecht & Mackinnon registered to lobby for Motorola on legislation aimed at reallocating the rights to spectrum, as well as other telecom issues.
Mark Holman, a former deputy assistant to the president for homeland security who is now with the lobbying firm Blank Rome Government Relations, registered to lobby for IXP of New Jersey on security and telecom issues. And Callipso, a manufacturer of Internet networking equipment, hired Gibson Dunn & Crutcher to lobby on Internet telephony regulation.
The Tech Industry Job Scene
The Interactive Travel Services Association named Art Sackler as its new executive director on Friday. Sackler succeeds Antonella Pianalto, who left the organization to become director of government affairs at American Express. Sackler previously was Time Warner's vice president for law and public policy, where his issues included intellectual property, trade and e-commerce. He also was previously a member of the FTC's advisory committee on online access and security.
In other industry news, Cristin Flynn begins work Tuesday as BellSouth's director of national security emergency preparedness. She succeeds Shawn Cochran, who as been activated for military service in the Middle East. Flynn will be BellSouth's representative to the National Coordinating Center for Telecommunications and will be responsible for coordinating interaction between BellSouth and 22 federal agencies. From 1999 until earlier this year, Flynn was responsible for critical infrastructure protection and cyber security at MCI.
Jonah Seiger, a co-founder of the Internet advocacy firm Mindshare Internet Strategies, announced Thursday that he is leaving the firm, with an announcement of future plans forthcoming. "After more than five years of hard work building a successful and prosperous company, the time has come for me to explore new horizons," Seiger said in a statement. Seiger currently is a visiting fellow at George Washington University's Institute for Politics, Democracy and the Internet. He also teaches a course on the Internet and political communication through GWU's graduate school of political management.
Chris Parente, a spokesman for the security firm VeriSign, has left the company and is contemplating his next move. "I've done technology for the past four years, and I'm wondering whether I want to be on the client side or the agency side," he said. While he ponders his next move, Parente can be reached through his Web site, www.chrisparente.com.
TRUSTe, the San Francisco company known for its privacy-seal program, named four new members to its 15-member board, all of them senior privacy officials with major U.S. technology companies. The new board members are: Joseph Alhadeff, Oracle's vice president for global public policy and chief privacy officer; Hans Peter Brondmo, Digital Impact's senior vice president for strategy and corporate development; Peter Cullen, Microsoft's chief privacy strategist; and Bennie Smith, DoubleClick's chief privacy officer.
Homeland Security's Privacy Chief Taps Adviser
Maureen Cooney, previously a senior adviser at the FTC, is moving to the Homeland Security Department's privacy office to become chief of staff and director of international privacy policy starting next Monday.
She will advise Chief Privacy Officer Nuala O'Connor Kelly and work with data-protection authorities worldwide. O'Connor Kelly said Cooney is the first of what will eventually be "lots and lots" of hires for her department this year. At the FTC, Cooney advised commissioners Orson Swindle and Mozelle Thompson on international privacy issues.
FCC Overhaul Prompts Staff Shuffle
The FCC announced a slew of promotions last week. Christopher Olsen, previously assistant chief of the Enforcement Bureau's division on resolving market disputes, was named deputy chief of the bureau on Wednesday. Before joining the FCC, Olsen was a partner with Howrey Simon Arnold & White.
On Thursday, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Chief John Muleta announced key staff appointments following the reorganization of the bureau into six new divisions.
Among the new positions, Aaron Goldberger was named legal adviser to the bureau chief. He will provide support to the division on public safety and critical infrastructure and be responsible for coordination with the Office of Engineering and Technology. Also, Lauren Patrich was named special counsel for media and outreach to handle public affairs for the bureau and coordinate outreach efforts such as public forums. And Margaret Wiener, chief of the former auctions and industry analysis division, is now chief of the division on auctions and spectrum access, to be assisted by Gary Michaels, the deputy division chief for policy and legal issues.
Joel Taubenblatt, deputy chief of the former policy division, has been named chief of the new broadband division and will oversee issues related to wireless broadband services. Deputy chiefs John Schauble, Mary Shultz, and Jennifer Tomchin will assist him. Roger Noel, meanwhile, will lead the new mobility division and be assisted by deputies Kathy Harris and Tom Derenge.
Finally, D'wana Terry will lead the division on public safety and critical infrastructure; William Kunze will lead the division on spectrum and competition policy; and John Chudovan will lead the division on spectrum management resources and technology.
James Rogan's 'Rough Edges'
Former Patent and Trademark Office chief James Rogan has completed work on his memoir and returned to private legal practice in California. He is a partner in the Venable firm's legislative and government practice.
Rogan, who served two terms in the House, was one of the 13 "managers" who directed the Senate impeachment trial of former President Clinton. Rogan's book, titled "Rough Edges: My Unlikely Road from Welfare to Washington," recounts his political career and childhood.
Rogan was born the illegitimate son of a bartender and cocktail waitress and was raised by his longshoreman grandfather. Although Rogan dropped out of high school, he later graduated from the University of California at Berkeley, and the University of California at Los Angeles law school, working his way through college and law school at a biker bar and a pornographic movie theater on the Hollywood strip.
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