FCC names new CTO

Eric Burger was named chief technology officer of the Federal Communications Commission on Oct. 2.

Burger previously served as director of the Security and Software Engineering Research Center, based in Muncie, Ind. The center focuses on telecommunications issues, including robocalling, access by people with disabilities and network stability. It represents researchers, faculty and students drawn from three institutions of higher learning: Ball State University, Virginia Tech and Georgetown University.

FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai, who was just reconfirmed by the Senate to a new stint in the top job, lauded Burger’s expertise in navigating the technology and telecommunications policy landscape.

Burger will serve as an advisor to Pai and the senior technology expert within the FCC's Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis.

"The FCC's work lies at the crossroads of technology and policy.  That makes it vital that we have at our disposal the technological expertise to make the right policy calls for the American people," Pai said.  "I am pleased that Eric has agreed to join our team and lend us his vast expertise.  From stopping robocalls to facilitating the transition to next-generation networks, the FCC has important work to do for American consumers, and I’m grateful that we are adding such skill and experience to our team."

Burger replaces Henning Schulzrinne, who announced in August that he would be returning to teach computer science at Columbia University.