David A. Gross
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David A. Gross (born 1954) is one of the world’s experts on international telecommunications[citation needed], having served for nearly eight years as the senior United States government official responsible for representing the U.S. on global telecommunications issues. During his lengthy tenure, he addressed the United Nations (UN) General Assembly and led more U.S. delegations to major international telecommunication conferences than anyone in modern history. He is currently a partner in the Communications Practice of Wiley Rein LLP where he assists U.S. companies seeking to enter or expand international businesses, as well as non-U.S. companies and organizations seeking to invest in, monitor and understand the U.S. market. Gross also advises foreign companies on non-U.S. countries and opportunities and informs clients regarding the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Organization for Economic Cooperation Development (OECD), Asia Pacific Economic Cooperative (APEC), as well as other international bodies.
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[edit] Department of State
Prior to joining Wiley Rein, Gross served as the U.S. Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy, U.S. Department of State (2001–2009), where he had overall responsibility for the formulation and advocacy of international communications policy for the United States. He was appointed by President George W. Bush and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate for the rank of Ambassador.
While at the Department of State, Gross led U.S. delegations to several major international telecommunications conferences, including the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference (2002, 2006), ITU World Telecommunication Development Conferences (2002, 2006) and ITU World Telecommunication Standardization Assemblies (2004, 2008). He also led U.S. delegations to three APEC Ministerial Meetings in Shanghai, Lima and Bangkok.
Gross was the head U.S. government negotiator and head of the delegation for the multilateral preparatory conferences for both phases of the United Nations' "Heads of State" World Summit on the Information Society and was a member of the UN Information and Communications Technologies Task Force and co-led the U.S. delegation to the formal Summits in Geneva (2003) and Tunis (2005). Gross also led interagency telecommunications delegations to seven countries, conducted bilateral discussions at senior levels with representatives from more than 50 countries and provided commercial and policy advocacy on behalf of U.S. companies in markets around the world.
[edit] Other positions
Gross was the National Executive Director of Lawyers for the Bush-Cheney campaign (2000) and served as Washington Counsel for AirTouch Communications (acquired by Vodafone in 1999), then the world’s largest wireless telecommunications company (1994–2000). From 1979-1993, he was in private practice at the law firm of Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan.
[edit] Personal
Gross received his B.A. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania and received his Juris Doctor (J.D) from Columbia University Law School. He is a member of the District of Columbia Bar. For many years, he has been active with various bar associations, including the Federal Communications Bar Association(in which he has twice been elected to be an officer and has often served as co-chair of various committees) and the International Bar Association (in which he has been vice-chair of the Communications Committee). Gross currently resides in Bethesda, Maryland with his wife and son.
