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Michael D. Gallagher serves as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).� He was appointed to the post by President George W. Bush on July 1, 2004, after serving as Acting Assistant Secretary since August 2003.
Prior to his appointment, he served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Counselor to Secretary of Commerce Donald L. Evans.� He was the lead policy advisor to the Secretary and was responsible for the effective coordination of policy initiatives within the Commerce Department and across the Administration.� Before joining the Secretary�s personal staff, Mr. Gallagher served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and Deputy Administrator of NTIA.
As a leading member of the Bush Administration�s technology team, Mr. Gallagher has focused his efforts on bringing the benefits of new and exciting telecommunications technologies to consumers including fulfilling President Bush�s national goal of affordable broadband Internet access for all American by 2007.� As part of those efforts, Mr. Gallagher spearheaded the Bush Administration�s enabling of a number of world-leading technologies including ultrawideband, broadband over power lines (BPL) and new spectrum allocations for both licensed and unlicensed wireless communications.�
In early 2004, NTIA conducted technical studies measuring the radiofrequency emissions of BPL.� NTIA, under Mr. Gallagher�s direction, provided the technical foundation for the responsible deployment of BPL adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in October of this year.
As the President�s principal advisor on telecommunications policy, Mr. Gallagher led President Bush�s 2003 initiative to develop a radio spectrum policy for the 21st century.� Mr. Gallagher directed an NTIA study that made twenty-four innovative and far reaching recommendations for better spectrum management that will enable the nation to keep pace with powerful new technologies that benefit American consumers and provide spectrum for critical homeland security, public safety and scientific research.� The action plans were delivered to the President on June 24, 2004.
The 21st Century Spectrum Policy was built on previous policy breakthroughs such as the authorization of ultrawideband.� Working closely with the FCC and other federal government agencies, Mr. Gallagher directed NTIA�s technical study that led to the Commission�s approval of ultrawideband -- a promising new technology that will spur the development of innovative devices that efficiently �underlay� the radio spectrum and could radically improve the ability of the nation�s public safety entities to respond to emergencies.
In 2002, Mr. Gallagher also led NTIA�s development of a landmark spectrum allocation plan paving the way for deployment of advanced mobile telecommunications services known as �3G�.� The 3G plan, which identified 90 MHz of radio spectrum for future wireless services, is a significant part of the Administration�s overall initiative to promote more efficient use of the radio spectrum � key to improving the quality of voice and data services, enhancing delivery of health services and increasing the nation�s productivity.
In 2003, Mr. Gallagher spearheaded the NTIA effort to bring the Defense Department and the U.S. technology industry together to permit devices using Wi-Fi technologies to co-exist with sensitive military radar systems in the 5 GHz frequency band.� The compromise doubled the amount of spectrum for Wi-Fi in the 5 GHz band and enabled the United States to support a globally harmonized allocation of 5 GHz spectrum for unlicensed Wireless Local Area Network systems and the World Radio Communications Conference in Geneva in July 2003.
Mr. Gallagher initiated a public dialogue on issues related to the convergence of the Internet Domain Name System and the telephone numbering systems known as �ENUM�.� The ENUM standard is an important element of the foundation for emerging IP-enabled services.� He developed principles for the implementation of ENUM in the U.S. in a way that will maximize competitive opportunities for industry while protecting the privacy and security of U.S. consumers.
Mr. Gallagher was vice president for state public policy at Verizon Wireless in Bellevue, Washington.� From 1998 to 2000, he was managing director for government relations at AirTouch Communications Inc., also in Bellevue, Washington.� Mr. Gallagher served as Administrative Assistant to former Congressman Rick White (R-Washington) from 1995 to 1997.� Subsequently, he established a government relations practice at Perkins Coie, LLP in the Pacific Northwest.� Mr. Gallagher received his B.A. from the University of California at Berkeley and his J.D. from the University of California in Los Angeles.� He is a member of the Washington State Bar.