President
Bush nominated NRI Neil Suryakant Patel to serve as Assistant
Secretary
for Communications Information
Washington, March 16, 2008
Ramesh Gupta
President George W. Bush announced nomination of Neil Suryakant
Patel, 38, of the District of Columbia to be Assistant Secretary
for Communications Information at the Department of Commerce (National
Telecommunications and Information Administration- NTIA)
Currently, NRI Neil Suryakant Patel is an Assistant to the Vice
President, Cheney for Domestic and Economic policy issues
including energy and the environment, healthcare, finanancial
services, transportation, international economics and technology
and telecommunications.
Patel served as assistant general counsel at UUNET Technologies,
one of the first commercial Internet service providers. At UUNET,
he worked on policy issues including e-commerce, internet taxation,
and internet security and abuse.
After George W. Bush's announcement, Federal Communications Chairman
Kevin Martin and Commissioner McDowell released statements in
support of the appointment.
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin martin
said:
- Neil Patel has been a dedicated public servant whom I have
known for the past seven years.
- I am pleased someone of Neil’s caliber is filling this
position at NTIA at such a crucial time.
- Neil’s extensive experience with technology and telecommunications
issues will immediately help advance NTIA’s goals and
ultimately benefit consumers across multimedia platforms.
- I look forward to working with Neil on a broad range of issues,
and especially as we prepare the country for the transition
to digital."
Republican Federal Communications Commission member Robert
McDowell said:
- I applaud President Bush’s nomination of Neil Patel
to head the National Telecommunications and Information Administration
- I have had the pleasure of knowing Neil for many years. He
is a substantive, energetic and committed public servant who
is well-suited to lead the NTIA. I wish Neil the best as he
proceeds through the confirmation process.
- I know Neil will continue to build on their strong accomplishments
to advance the common goals of the NTIA and the commission during
the exciting months ahead.
Michael Petricone, senior vice president of
government affairs for the Consumer Electronics Association said,
'We congratulate Neil Patel on his nomination as assistant secretary
for communications and information"
About NTIA
A bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce, the National Telecommunications
and Information Administration (NTIA) is the President's principal
adviser on telecommunications and information policy issues,
and in this role frequently works with other Executive Branch
agencies to develop and present the Administration's position
on these issues. Since its creation in 1978, NTIA has been at
the cutting edge of critical issues. In addition to representing
the Executive Branch in both domestic and international telecommunications
and information policy activities, NTIA also manages the Federal
use of spectrum; performs cutting-edge telecommunications research
and engineering, including resolving technical telecommunications
issues for the Federal government and private sector; and administers
infrastructure and public telecommunications facilities grants.
