FCC has higher aspirations for its data

The Federal Communications Commission has named its first chief data officer and its first geographic information officer as part of a broad program to improve the utility and accessibility of FCC data.

The new executive positions are part of the FCC’s Data Innovation Initiative aimed at improving the collection and analysis of the agency’s data among FCC bureaus, making that data more available, and mapping the data more effectively.

Greg Elin, currently associate managing director of new media at the FCC, has been named chief data officer. Elin will lead a team of FCC bureau chief data officers, including Robert Alderfer of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau; Kris Monteith, deputy chief of the Media Bureau; and Steven Rosenberg of the Wireline Competition Bureau. The team also will receive input from FCC Chief Information Officer Andrew Martin, as well as executives from the FCC's Consumer and Governmental Affairs, International, Engineering and Technology, Strategic Planning, and Policy Analysis bureaus, and the commission's general counsel and managing director.

Related stories:

FCC wants faster internet for government buildings

NTIA awards grants for national broadband map

Michael Byrne has been named the FCC’s first geographic information officer, working in the strategic planning office and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. He will lead the development of a comprehensive national broadband map and develop practices for improving the FCC’s use of geographic information.

“Smart policies depend on quality data, and public data should be accessible to the public in meaningful ways using modern digital tools,” FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said in a statement released today. “I expect that the data team will both streamline and open up our data processes, institutionalizing positive change at the FCC.”

As part of the porogram, the public will be invited to provide ideas on which data ought to be collected, how it should be collected, how existing data can be improved, and which data should be eliminated. The public notices were expected imminently on the commission's Web site, according to Jen Howard, FCC spokeswoman.