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Two Tech Lobbyists Start Own Firm
by Heather Greenfield
Two long-time technology lobbyists have a new startup. Josh Ackil, most recently the chief Democratic lobbyist for the Information Technology Industry Council, and Matt Tanielian, formerly of Cisco Systems, have launched the Franklin Square Group.
Ackil and Tanielian are long-time friends and former colleagues at ITI and have a combined 25 years of experience in Washington, including positions on Capitol Hill and at the White House.
Tanielian was a counsel to former Sen. Robert Torricelli, D-N.J., and a chief counsel to the Senate Judiciary Administrative Oversight and the Courts Subcommittee. At the panel, he was the chief counsel on business and technology issues, and before that he handled antitrust and investigative matters. He also once was a staff attorney for the Federal Election Commission.
Ackil worked for the Democratic Steering Committee when Thomas Daschle, D-S.D., was the Senate majority leader. Ackil also was a staff director of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs under former President Clinton and served in the leadership office of Richard Gephardt, D-Mo., when he was the House Democratic leader. Ackil was recently named one of Washington's top lobbyists on tech issues by The Hill.
The duo will handle tech and new economy issues -- anything from technology to venture capital to energy. "We've been long-time friends and colleagues and always wanted to tackle the entrepreneurial side of the business, and we decided to do it," Ackil said.
NCTA Hires Senate Commerce Aide
Just before the end of the year, a senior Democratic counsel to the Senate Commerce Committee resigned to become executive vice president of the National Cable and Telecommunications Association. NCTA announced the hiring of James Assey as their new top lobbyist, though he will not officially start until next month.
Part of Assey's job at the Commerce Committee, where he served starting in 2001, was to help draft network neutrality language to prevent cable and telecom companies from creating tiers on the Internet and charging preferred providers more for faster speeds. Now he will be part of NCTA's push against net neutrality rules.
Assey joined the committee as the first telecom counsel for former Sen. Ernest (Fritz) Hollings, D-S.C., and most recently was senior Democratic counsel on communications and media issues for Chairman Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii. During his time with Inouye, Assey attended an annual NCTA convention in San Francisco in April 2005. According to the LegiStorm, which charts salaries and trips of congressional aides, NCTA paid the tab for that trip.
Before coming to Capitol Hill, Assey was a communications associate in the Washington office of Willkie Farr & Gallagher and a law clerk for U.S. District Judge Cameron Currie in South Carolina. He started his Capitol Hill career as a legislative assistant for Hollings.
The hiring of Assey helps NCTA balance its Washington influence because President and CEO Kyle McSlarrow is seen as a well-connected Republican. Assey is filling the position left vacant by David Krone, who left to join Comcast.
"Throughout his professional career, James has demonstrated deep and insightful knowledge of telecommunications issues, as well as great personal integrity," McSlarrow said. "Widely respected on both sides of the aisle and at the FCC, James will represent our industry at a very high level. We are delighted to welcome him to the NCTA team."
Ex-Rep. Nancy Johnson To Co-Chair ITIF
Former Rep. Nancy Johnson has been appointed co-chairwoman of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation's board, replacing former Rep. Jennifer Dunn, a Washington state Republican who died last fall.
Johnson, R-Conn., is a senior policy adviser in Baker Donelson's Washington, D.C., office and a member of the firm's Federal Public Policy Group. She has focused on health care, tax and trade.
"With her significant background in and knowledge of technology and innovation policy issues, Congresswoman Johnson is an ideal choice to be the new ITIF co-chair," foundation President Robert Atkinson said.
Johnson served 24 years in Congress, from 1983 to 2007, and was the most senior woman in Congress before she lost re-election battle in 2006. She is known for her work on healthcare issues, including her push for broad adoption of health information technology.
A Future Promoting The Future Of Music
The Future of Music Coalition has a new leading voice. Ann Chaitovitz has been named its next executive director starting next month. She brings more than 15 years of experience in artist rights, copyright and new media technologies to her new role at FMC.
Chaitovitz most recently worked at the Patent and Trademark Office as a copyright expert. She helped formulate federal positions on copyright matters and was a member of the U.S. delegation to the World Intellectual Property Organization. Previously, Chaitovitz was the national director of sound recordings for the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, where she managed copyright and recording artist issues.
Chaitovitz said she has "big shoes to fill" with the departure of Jenny Toomey from the coalition's executive director slot. Toomey left to become program officer for media and cultural policy at the Ford Foundation. "Jenny Toomey guided FMC into a lean, mean fighting machine that has had true impact on the lives of musicians and the ways in which policymakers look at artist and media issues," Chaitovitz said.
Toomey thinks FMC will be well-represented. "Ann Chaitovitz is one of the strongest and most dedicated advocates that musicians have in the field," Toomey said. "During her tenure at [the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers], AFTRA and her many years on our advisory board, Ann has been a confidant, collaborator, legal advisor and friend. With Ann at the helm, FMC will help musicians achieve the equitable structures they deserve."
Chaitovitz has worked with the coalition for years and said she has been "very impressed with the work it has done to ensure that artists' voices are represented in policy and new media debates." "The excitement I have for these issues and commitment I have to FMC makes me believe that we can ensure the future brings a healthy music industry, where citizens can access more music in more ways and where artists are fairly compensated," Chaitovitz said.
"It's been a pleasure to work with Ann in the past, and we're thrilled to have her expertise and leadership as we move into the future," coalition Policy Director Michael Bracy said after the board's unanimous decision to approve Chaitovitz.
Quote Of The Week
"Some of us are ready, and some of us are not. Some of us know what we'll do on day one and some of us don't."
-- Democrat Hillary Clinton, responding to a question from a woman in a New Hampshire coffee shop Monday about her presidential campaign.
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