Kenneth Ferree

Kenneth Ferree is the current president of the Progress and Freedom Foundation, a Washington think tank focusing on free markets and media deregulation. Previously Ferree served as FCC Chief of Media Bureau from 2001 to 2005 (under FCC chairman Michael Powell), and had brief stints as Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Interim CEO at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Prior to his work in Government, Ferree practiced law with multiple firms, focusing on communications law. Ferree received a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center, an MBA at San Jose State University, and a BA in English from Dartmouth College.

Philosophy
At the FCC Ferree developed a reputation as a champion of deregulation working closely with Michael Powell to tackle issues such as broadband regulation, media ownership rules, and digital television policy.

Ferree led the charge in the effort to classify cable modem service as an unregulated information service and in June 2003 he helped craft an FCC order calling for easing broadcast ownership rules.

A federal appeals court stayed the order and later overturned much of it in a 2-1 ruling.

External Sources

 * Paul Davidson, "FCC's media chief rolls with blunt force", USA Today November 5, 2003.
 * "Ferree To Head D.C. Free-Market Think Tank"
 * pff.org/about/staff