White House Provides Certainty, Names Koh to Head US Delegation to WRC
Grace Koh, who started working at the State Department Monday, was designated Tuesday to lead the U.S. delegation to the 2019 World Radiocommunication Conference. The move was expected. Some feared it might not be automatic given White House personnel issues (see 1903040058).
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Koh must still be designated as ambassador, which is customary. U.S. ambassadors to the WRC get that designation, which doesn’t require Senate confirmation, for up to six months. Industry officials said that is likely closer to the start of the WRC, which begins Oct. 28 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
State said Koh joined its Office of International Communications and Information Policy “to lead preparations and the U.S. delegation.” Robert Strayer, State Department deputy assistant secretary-cyber and international communications and information policy, will play a role in conference prep but is generally more focused on cybersecurity issues, industry officials said.
FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly favors giving the WRC ambassador a longer tenure, he told us Monday. He said that's even if it would require Senate confirmation before each WRC. Koh is “an inspiring and sound selection, especially given her deep understanding of communications policy, knowledge of the relevant parties, and unflappable demeanor,” O'Rielly said. “WRC-19 is expected to be incredibly complex and challenging given the heightened stakes involving the future of global 5G wireless services.”
Koh’s leadership of the delegation “will help ensure America is best positioned to lead in development of 5G, satellite, and other future communications technologies,” said NTIA Administrator David Redl. Koh "has everything it takes to promote our country’s interests and get the job done at WRC,” emailed CTIA General Counsel Tom Power.
"Great news for American leadership in 5G," tweeted Commissioner Brendan Carr. Chairman Ajit Pai called Koh “exceptionally well-qualified.” Picking Koh "is an important step,” tweeted Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel. “Lots of work ahead to set the future course of spectrum policy.”
Koh joined DLA Piper last May from the National Economic Council, and the law firm had prematurely announced her selection to head the delegation in January (see 1901180027). At NEC, Koh was a special assistant to President Donald Trump. Before moving to the White House, she was an aide to the House Communications Subcommittee and previously worked as policy counsel at Cox Enterprises and at law firm Willkie Farr.