Net Effect of Bonner's Promotion to Deputy U.S. CTO Remains to Be Seen

The recent promotion of Austin Bonner to deputy U.S. chief technology officer-policy (see 2308180042) could address a recurring concern among Biden administration watchers that there’s no one close to the White House with enough standing to keep tabs on telecom and other communications matters, industry experts told us. But they said it remains to be seen whether the change will have much effect.

Bonner, a former aide to FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks, was previously assistant director-spectrum and telecom policy in the Office of U.S. CTO. She's also an alumna of HWG and Hogan Lovells.

Tim Wu, former special assistant to the president for competition and tech policy, had been considered a potential point person on telecom policy but left the White House in January (see 2301030040). Experts said he was an outspoken proponent of net neutrality, but Wu’s primary focus at the White House was the FTC and competition policy. The perception has been that Bonner was “very, very junior” before the promotion, said a former senior FCC official. The White House didn’t comment.

Given its significance to U.S. GDP and economic growth, “I’d like to believe that the Biden administration is finally recognizing the need to free more commercial spectrum, for both licensed and shared purposes, but it’s hard to read too much into this appointment,” said former FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly. “To maneuver the traditional agency roadblocks, spectrum interest and direction must be a priority for those officials at the absolute top of the chain,” he said.

“Maybe the administration is finally taking telecom issues seriously and trying to devise a game plan” for the World Radiocommunication Conference, emailed Jonathan Cannon, R Street fellow-technology and innovation, who as an aide to Commissioner Nathan Simington worked with Bonner. “The administration has been slow to do anything meaningful on telecom and has treated the issue as an afterthought,” Cannon said: “I’m not sure this means much.”

The significance of the promotion isn’t completely clear “other than a statement that [Bonner] has the support of folks in the White House for how she has done her job so far,” said New Street’s Blair Levin, former FCC chief of staff.

Shane Tews of the American Enterprise Institute considers Bonner “an excellent choice” for deputy CTO. Bonner “has a deep background in technology innovation, with experience in both the public and private sectors,” Tews said: “She is also a strong advocate for privacy and equity in the use of technology.”

The appointment demonstrates the White House “is feeling the pressure that comes from neglecting some key issues in the telecom space,” emailed Digital Progress Institute President Joel Thayer. “We have no spectrum pipeline, no auction authority, and have the [affordable connectivity program] about to run out of money.” Most broadband equity, access and deployment program funding “is still up in the air,” he said: “Having Austin may help give the White House more insight on these issues and could explain her promotion.” Said Louis Peraertz, Wireless ISP Association vice president-policy: “Austin has a background in both wireless and wireline and her well-grounded experience should serve her well in her new role."