Press Release:
Dale Hatfield Named As Chairman of Commerce Department's Spectrum Advisory Committee

For Immediate Release:  Dec. 13, 2006
Contact: Todd Sedmak or Ranjit DeSilva, (202) 482-7002

WASHINGTON, D.C.--Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information John Kneuer today announced Dale Hatfield, an independent consultant and adjunct professor in the University of Colorado Interdisciplinary Telecommunications Program, as chairman of the Commerce Department’s Spectrum Advisory Committee at the Committee’s first meeting.

“Dale Hatfield’s expertise, seasoned judgment, and unquestioned integrity, make him the obvious choice to chair this important committee,” said John Kneuer, who oversees the Advisory Committee.  “I look forward to working with Dale and the other committee members on using the nation’s airwaves to further America’s competitiveness and spur economic growth in broadband services, and public safety services through improved federal spectrum management.”

Committee members will provide advice and recommendations on how the use of the radio frequency spectrum, a vital and limited resource, could be better managed to help ensure continued U.S. leadership in wireless technologies while ensuring the country’s homeland security, national defense and other critical governmental needs.

The Commerce Spectrum Advisory Committee is part of the President’s Spectrum Policy Initiative, which was established by President George W. Bush in June 2003 to further develop and implement a U.S. spectrum policy for the 21st century that meets the Nation’s needs and spurs economic growth.  Radio frequency spectrum contributes to increased technological innovation and scientific discovery, enables communications among first responders to natural disasters and terrorist attacks, assists in military operations, and spurs economic growth and job creation by providing sound commercial choices for consumers including high-speed Internet and increased wireless services.

The President’s Spectrum Policy Initiative is located on the Web at www.ntia.doc.gov.  The Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration is the President's principal adviser on telecommunications and information policy issues. 

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