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The Daily OrangeFormer FCC chief speaks on regulation: Bryan Tramont discusses how government agency controls daily activities
By Dan Scorpio
Posted: 2/29/08, 12:55 AM EST Section: News
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The FCC does.
Tramont, former Federal Communications Commission chief of staff, gave a presentation Thursday titled, "First Semester Curriculum and Your Cell Phone - They Have More In Common Than You Think," and addressed many of the current issues facing the communications industry and consumers. He gave special consideration to cellular and wireless communications.
Several hundred students and faculty, mostly from the College of Law, crowded into Hendricks Chapel to hear the lawyer and communications law expert share his insights.
"Wireless communication is transforming the way we live, work and play," Tramont said. "It is as much a part of our lives as the automobile and traditional phone service."
Tramont walked up and down the aisles of Hendricks during his presentation, and from time to time was stopped with a question from the audience. He seemed especially pleased to receive questions because he said he spent most of his time in law school "confused" about communications law.
"My professors struggled to connect our learning to everyday life," Tramont said. "My goal is to make that connection easier to understand."
Tramont spent part of his lecture explaining the purpose and functions of the FCC, and how its status as an independent agency makes it different from the branches of government.
"Communications law is a cutting-edge discipline," Tramont said.
His comments elicited a groan from the audience when he said all analog television sets would be outdated in Feb. 2009 and would have to be replaced with digital sets.
The SU College of Law named Tramont an official practitioner in residence, a title that is given to "practicing attorneys of note who receive appointments by the law school to work on cases or teach," said Tomás Gonzalez, senior assistant dean for student life in the College of Law.
Tramont will spend the remainder of the week lecturing to law faculty and speaking to law classes as well as in select classes in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.
LaVonda Reed-Huff, an assistant professor of law, said it was an honor to have the former FCC chief of staff on campus.
"We are very excited and know our students will benefit from seeing him," she said.
dpscorpi@syr.edu
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