Coalition Leadership
The Advisory Board
Jonathan Spalter
Chairman
Jonathan Spalter has a long track record building and leading innovative media, technology, and research companies in the U.S, Asia/Pacific, .and Europe. He founded the independent investment research company, Public Insight, and was CEO of Snocap, the digital music licensing and company founded by the creators of Napster. He has also held senior management roles at the Paris headquarters of Vivendi Universal, the global media, telecommunications, and entertainment group. He was senior vice president of the company's public policy team worldwide, and also served as executive vice president of business development and strategy for Vivendi Universal Net and CEO of company affiliate Atmedica Worldwide. Spalter has also been a principal at the Dewey Square Group, a Washington-based grassroots marketing firm. During the Clinton Administration, Spalter was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate for the position of associate director at the US Information Agency, where he was also appointed chief information officer. He also served in the White House as director of public affairs for the National Security Council, and chief international affairs spokesperson and speech writer for Vice President Al Gore. He also co-founded and chaired the non-profit animation studio Climate Cartoons, which produces media content about global warming. One of its productions, "Big Fun with Global Warming," recently won the Emmy Award for National Public Service Announcements/Broadband. Early in his career, Spalter held various productions and editorial roles in broadcast and cable - among them, foreign affairs reporter for PBS' MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour.
Allison Remsen
Executive Director
Allison Remsen is the Executive Director of Mobile Future. With nearly fifteen years experience working on communications issues, she joins Mobile Future after handling media relations for the United States Telecom Association. Prior to USTelecom, Remsen worked for House Democratic Whip David Bonior assisting Members of Congress on the House floor, helping to coordinate legislative and messaging efforts for House Democrats and advising Congressman Bonior on telecom issues. She began her career working in the government relations shop for the National Cable Television Association where she closely monitored the progress and passage of the 1996 Telecommunications Act.
Hiram “Art” Contreras
Advisor
Hiram “Art” Contreras served the City of Houston for 36 years with the Houston Police Department. He retired as Assistant Chief of Police in March 1998. While ascending the police ranks, Contreras’ assignments included Auto Thief, Juvenile, Recruiting, Planning and Research, Northeast Patrol and Major Offenders. He was promoted to Assistant Chief in July 1991 and was the only Hispanic to attain the rank of Deputy Chief. As Assistant Chief he directed The Professional Development Command and at retirement he directed the Special Investigation Command. Contreras established the first Houston Police Department storefront in the city and also initiated the Culture Awareness Program. In collaboration with the U.S. Marshal’s Service he initiated the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force. Contreras was nominated by President William J. Clinton to be U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Texas, a role he served from 1998 to 2002.
Brian Fontes, Ph.D.
Advisor
Brian Fontes currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer for the National Emergency Number Association, a position he has held since June 2008. As CEO, he is responsible for all aspects of the Association. His primary objectives are to ensure that Americans have access to reliable 9-1-1 service, 9-1-1 centers have state-of the art technologies and well-trained professionals, and sufficient funding is available so that the 9-1-1 system can best serve those who call upon it as their first voice of hope. Prior to joining the Association, Fontes was Vice President, Federal Relations for Cingular Wireless and served in that capacity after its acquisition by AT&T. Prior to that, Fontes was Senior Vice President for Policy and Administration at the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA). Before joining CTIA, Fontes served as the Senior Advisor to Commissioner James H. Quello, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and as the FCC’s Chief of Staff. Fontes started his professional career as a Professor of Communications at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Ari Q. Fitzgerald
Advisor
Ari Fitzgerald is a partner at Hogan Lovells where his practice focuses on wireless, satellite, international communications, and Internet-related issues. Ari also provides strategic and legal advice on a wide range of telecommunications and spectrum-related issues. Ari joined Hogan Lovells from the FCC, where for nearly three years he served as Legal Advisor to the FCC's former Chairman, William Kennard. In this position, he advised the chairman on wireless, international, and spectrum policy issues. Ari later served as Deputy Chief of the FCC's International Bureau, overseeing the development of FCC policies on international telecommunications, foreign ownership, satellite services, spectrum allocation, and promotion of the Internet.
Diane Smith
Advisor
Diane Smith’s experience as an entrepreneur in rural America, combined with her background in public policy, gives her compelling insight into subjects ranging from emerging technologies and rural connectivity, to venture funding. From 2005 – 2007, Diane was a co-founder and CEO of Auroras Entertainment , an IPTV and digital media services company. During that time, she led Aurora’s evolution from concept to start-up through a merger to become Avail Media, Inc., where she served as President until 2008. In less than five years, Avail Media has grown to be the largest independent digital media services company inNorth America. Diane was also a senior executive with Alltel Corporation from 1988-2002, where she managed teams of public policy specialists to maximize the company’s opportunity for success in the rapidly changing local exchange and wireless industries. Smith lives in Whitefish, Montana with her husband David and daughter Ally.
Bryan Tramont
Advisor
Bryan Tramont, Wilkinson, Barker, and Knauer LLP managing partner, offers strategic counsel to Fortune 100 companies and trade associations, as well as small and mid-sized telecommunications and media companies, on all aspects of communications law and regulation. Given the breadth of his work in the industry, he is regularly called on to advise companies as they develop and evaluate new business opportunities in the technology, media and telecommunications sectors. Prior to joining Wilkinson Barker Knauer, Mr. Tramont served as Chief of Staff of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under Chairman Michael Powell. As FCC Chief of Staff, Mr. Tramont managed all aspects of the agency’s operations and directed the FCC staff in implementing all components of the agency’s broad policy portfolio including media, broadband, mobility and traditional telephone services. Before being elevated to the Chief of Staff post, Mr. Tramont was Chairman Powell’s Senior Legal Advisor, advising him generally on strategic policy matters and specifically on wireless, international, technology, satellite, and consumer issues. Mr. Tramont also served as Senior Legal Advisor to Commissioner Kathleen Abernathy and, before that, to Commissioner Harold Furchtgott-Roth. Before joining the FCC in 1999, Mr. Tramont practiced communications law at Wiley Rein and Fielding in Washington, DC. He also served as a law clerk for the Honorable Duane Benton on the Supreme Court for his home state of Missouri.
