Larry Irving

Larry Irving is former Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Commerce.

"Larry Irving is the President of the Irving Information Group, a consulting firm providing strategic planning and market development services to international telecommunications and information technology companies. Prior to forming the Irving Information Group, in October 1999, Mr. Irving served for almost seven years as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, where he was a principal advisor to the President, Vice President and Secretary of Commerce on domestic and international communications and information policy issues and supervised programs that award grants to extend the reach of advanced telecommunications technologies to under served areas.

"As a member of the Clinton Administration's technology team, Mr. Irving played an integral role in developing the Administration's Electronic Commerce, National Information Infrastructure and Global Information Infrastructure initiatives. He was a point person in the Administration's successful efforts to reform the United States' telecommunications law, which resulted in the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 -- the most sweeping change in America's telecommunications law in 60 years.

"Mr. Irving is widely credited with coining the term "the digital divide" and informing the American public about the growing problem it represents. He initiated and was the principal author of the landmark Federal survey, Falling Through the Net, which tracks access to telecommunications and information technologies, including telephones, computers and the Internet, across racial, economic, and geographic lines. Mr. Irving also was a key proponent in the Clinton-Gore Administration of policies to protect the diversity of voices in the commercial broadcast arena and to promote increased opportunities for minorities, women and rural Americans in the emerging digital economy.

"In recognition of his work to promote policies and develop programs to ensure equitable access to advanced telecommunication and information technologies, Mr. Irving was named one of the fifty most influential persons in the "Year of the Internet" by Newsweek Magazine, which described him as the "Conscience of the Internet". Mr. Irving was proclaimed a "Technology Champion" by the Congressional Black Caucus and received the James Madison Award from the American Library Association and the Mickey Leland Humanitarian Award from the National Association for Minorities in Communications. He also was recognized for his efforts to bridge the digital divide by, among others, the Alliance for Public Technology, the National Association of Telecommunications Professionals and the Indigenous Broadcast Center of Anchorage, Alaska.

"Prior to joining the Clinton-Gore Administration, Mr. Irving served ten years on Capitol Hill, most recently as Senior Counsel to the US House of Representatives Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance. He also served as Legislative Director, Counsel and Chief of Staff (acting) to the late Congressman Mickey Leland (D-Texas). During the previous three years, Mr. Irving was associated with the Washington, D.C. law firm of Hogan and Hartson, specializing in communications law, antitrust law, and commercial litigation. Mr. Irving received a B.A. from Northwestern University in 1976 and a J.D. from Stanford University School of Law, where he was President of the Class of 1979.

"Mr. Irving currently serves as a cofounder of UrbanMagic and a member of the Boards of Directors of Covad Communications, Worldgate Communications and Anticipa LLC. He also serves on the Board of Directors for TrustE, the Advisory Boards of Plugged In, Intel's Computer Clubhouse and the Digital Blackboard Foundation, the Advisory Council for the Law, Science and Technology Program at Stanford Law School and the Board of Visitors for the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences of Northwestern University. He is married to Leslie Annett Wiley and resides in Washington, DC." 

"From March 1987 to March 1993, Mr. Irving was the Senior Counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance where he played a key staff role in the enactment of the Cable Television Consumer Protection Act of 1992, the Children's Television Act of 1990 and the Television Decoder Circuitry Act of 1990.

"From January 1983 until March 1987, Mr. Irving served as Legislative Director and Counsel to the late Congressman Mickey Leland (D-Texas). He was the Congressman's acting Chief of Staff in 1983 and 1985.

"Prior to joining Congressman Leland's staff, Mr. Irving was associated for three years with the Washington D.C. law firm of Hogan and Hartson, where he specialized in the areas of communication law, antitrust law and commercial litigation.

"He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northwestern University in 1976. He is also a graduate of Stanford University School of Law where he was President of the Class of 1979.

"In addition to his legislative responsibilities, Mr. Irving served on the Board of Directors of the U.S. House of Representatives Child Care Foundation, and was appointed by the Speaker of the House to serve on the Advisory Board of the U.S. House of Representatives Child Care Center. Mr. Irving also has served as Staff Chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Fair Employment Practices Committee, as a member of the Board of Visitors of the Stanford University School of Law and as Co-Chair of the Electronic Media Division of the American Bar Association's Forum on Communications Law."


 * Director, Independent Television Service
 * Trustee, Education Development Center