Former Nebraska Commissioner Frank Landis died Tuesday, the Nebraska Public Service Commission said Thursday. He was 79. The Republican utility regulator was elected to the PSC in 1988 and served five six-year terms, retiring in January 2019. “A true advocate, he always asked the question; how will this impact the consumer,” said Nebraska PSC Commissioner Tim Schram. Chair Dan Watermeier said the commission “continues to benefit from the contributions Frank made and the relationships he forged.” Survivors include his wife, Polly.

Ligado Chief Technology Officer Maqbool Aliani, 56, of Fairfax, Virginia, died of cancer Saturday, CEO Doug Smith blogged Thursday. A graduate of Pakistan's NED University of Engineering and Technology and of George Mason University, Aliani spent more than 14 years with Ligado and LightSquared, and before that more than seven years at Sprint Nextel. "He was widely known in our industry for his knowledge, passion, and intellect, and for his love for a fancy pair of socks, good food, and late-night chats," Smith said. He's survived by a wife and two children, the company said.

Thomas Cookerly, 94, former Allbritton Communications executive and ex-Television Bureau of Advertising chair, died Sunday in Bethesda, Maryland. Cookerly graduated from Duke University in 1950 after serving in the Army. He worked for Procter & Gamble before joining the broadcast industry in TV ad sales for WBTV Charlotte. In 1971 he moved to Washington, D.C, becoming president-general manager of WJLA-TV and then president of Allbritton’s broadcast division in 1978. Cookerly was also the founder and the second president of the Washington Area Broadcasters Association and was chair of the ABC Television Affiliates Association.

Phil Rubin, 85, who played a major role in PanAmSat, died Nov. 9 at a hospice in Montgomery County, Maryland. The cause was complications from aspiration pneumonia, said his son, Thai Rubin, SES chief legal officer. Rubin worked for ITT Research Laboratories before joining Hughes Aircraft, where he worked on Syncom 2, the first geosynchronous communications satellite, and Syncom 3, the first geostationary satellite, Thai Rubin said. He moved to Geneva in 1965 as the ITU's first satellite expert, and developed India's Centre for Research and Training in Satellite Communications, now known as the Space Applications Centre. After moving to Washington, D.C., in 1970, Rubin was CPB chief scientist and Office of Science and Technology director, where he helped spearhead PBS and NPR moving to satellite distribution of programming. Rubin became chief scientist for PanAmSat, where he oversaw design, construction and launch of its satellites for nearly 20 years. He then co-founded RKF Engineering and retired about three years ago. Rubin received honors including being named an Institute of Electrical Engineers and American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics fellow, and was a Space & Satellite Professionals International Hall of Fame inductee. Survivors also include his wife, Lillie Belle Rubin, and two daughters. A memorial service is being planned for March to coincide with Satellite 2022.

Brian Goldner, 58, who headed Hasbro and was on the board of ViacomCBS, has died, the company announced Tuesday night. He joined the toymaker in 2000 and was tapped as CEO in 2008 and later became chairman. "He expanded the Company beyond toys and games into television, movies, digital gaming and beyond," Hasbro noted. He oversaw the 2019 takeover of the studio eOne, and "orchestrated major deals with Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios and Lionsgate to create motion pictures based on some of the company’s best-known brands and serves as an Executive Producer on many of the films," said ViacomCBS (see his biography). Goldner announced last year he was under "medical care following treatment for cancer in 2014," Hasbro said; in recent days, the company said he was taking medical leave. Goldner is survived by a wife and daughter. Donations can be made to Dr. Mega's GU Cancer Fund at the Miriam Hospital Foundation.

Bob Ratcliffe, 76, who was an FCC lawyer starting in 1975, died Sept. 10 at his Bethesda, Maryland, home of complications from cancer. Before retiring in 2014, Ratcliffe helped with the full-power DTV transition, and he worked on other media issues such as broadcast ownership and indecency, FCC acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel told Thursday's commissioners' meeting. She said he received a lifetime achievement award in 2012. Survivors include Ratcliffe's wife, Michelle, and sons, Michael and John. A memorial service will be held 3 p.m. Oct. 9 at Gawler's Sons, 5130 Wisconsin Ave. NW in Washington. Donations can be made in his honor to Doctors Without Borders.

Lawrence Wiley “Larry” Secrest III, 76, a former senior partner at Wiley Rein and a top aide at the FCC to then-Chairman Dick Wiley, died Sept. 10 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. Born in Alexandria, Virginia, Secrest graduated from American University and received a law degree from George Washington University before joining the U.S. Marine Corps and serving in Vietnam. He joined the FCC under Wiley and eventually was deputy general counsel. After leaving the FCC, Secrest worked at Kirkland and Ellis before leaving for Wiley Rein, where he eventually retired as a senior partner. Secrest is survived by his wife Christinne, his children Samantha Secrest Barnes, Lawrence Wiley (Lance) Secrest IV, Muriel Secrest Croston, and Matthew Lawrence Secrest, and his brother Jeff, daughter-by-heart Joy Villar, and eight grandchildren, plus nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research in honor of Larry Secrest.

ACA Connects co-founder Dean Petersen died Aug. 8, two days before his 81st birthday, ACA said Tuesday. Peterson and Stan Searle founded the organization, then the Small Cable Business Association, in 1993. "When Dean stepped down from the ACA Connects board in 1999, he was given ACAC’s second ‘Eagle Award,’ recognizing his efforts in, and contributions to, our Members and the cable TV industry," said ACA CEO Matthew Polka. Survivors include his daughters, Christy Brown, Connie Anderson and Cindy Moehring, and a brother, Ron Petersen. Services were held Thursday. Memorial gifts are suggested to Circle of Life, Springdale, Arkansas.

Howard Trienens, 97, a longtime communications attorney, died July 26 of natural causes, said Sidley Austin, where he worked for decades. Trienens first joined the firm in 1949 as an associate, becoming a partner in 1956 after a stint as law clerk to then-U.S. Chief Justice Fred Vinson. Trienens was AT&T general counsel 1980-86 while working at Sidley and helped to resolve antitrust litigation involving the company. The lawyer was chair of the firm’s executive committee 1977-1993 and remained a partner until his death. He's survived by son Kip, daughter Nan Kaehler, nine grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Information on funeral and other arrangements wasn't available.

Cliff Harrington, 73, longtime communications attorney, died July 2 at his home in Driftwood, Texas, after having pancreatic cancer. He was an FCC attorney-adviser 1972 until 1975, when he was hired by Fisher Wayland, now the Pillsbury law firm. Harrington led the Communications practice and retired from Pillsbury a few years ago as partner. He represented TV producer Norman Lear, Rev. Pat Robertson and broadcast networks, among others, said Pillsbury's Glenn Richards. Visitation was set for Saturday at 1 p.m. at Delhomme Funeral Home,1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, Louisiana. Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth, two children and one grandson.