The Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (WISPA) Named Matt Mandel as the association’s Vice President of Government Affairs. In this capacity, Mandel will oversee WISPA’s Congressional and Executive Branch advocacy, as well as the association’s expanded state-based portfolio.
Mandel comes to WISPA with years of telecommunications policy, legislative and advocacy experience. Prior to joining WISPA, Mandel spent more than seven years at the Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) as Senior Vice President of Government and Public Affairs, where he oversaw WIA’s advocacy agenda and external communications.
“The industry WISPA serves plays a vital role in providing reliable broadband to 9 million Americans in rural, under-resourced and Tribal parts of the country,” said David Zumwalt, president and CEO of WISPA. “WISPs have always been at the forefront of closing the digital divide and are constituents of the communities in which they operate. Matt’s work will be integral to bringing their experiences and core values to policymakers at the Federal and State levels, and fostering the continued growth and viability of the industry and the hard-to-reach localities they serve.”
Before WIA, Mandel was Vice President of Government Affairs at the Glover Park Group.
He began his career on Capitol Hill, spending 10 years as a legislative aide to several members of Congress, including nearly seven years as Legislative Director for a senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.
Mandel graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in government and politics, and he earned a master’s degree in political science from American University.
“Broadband represents a lifeline for all Americans, something we each must have in order to thrive,” Mandel said. “WISPs deliver evolutionary, cost-effective connectivity to areas that have been ignored, underserved or simply left behind. Their work realizes on a daily basis the essential national policy prerogative of getting all Americans online. They are the vibrant heartbeat of rural broadband. I’m excited to further this advocacy in Washington and the states and build upon the tremendous work of WISPA’s growing policy team and staff.”
WISPA’s approximately 1,000 members provide fixed broadband connectivity and include equipment suppliers, support services and other industry partners and stakeholders.
