NATOA Names Mike Lynch as New Legislative Director

For Immediate Release – December 14, 2022 - The National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA) has named Mike Lynch as Legislative Director.  In this full-time capacity, Mr. Lynch will lead the legislative and regulatory agenda for NATOA. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Mike to our team,” said Tonya Rideout, NATOA Executive Director. “Mike has been a longtime NATOA leader and member, and he brings a wealth of knowledge to this position. I look forward to his transition to NATOA staff and thank the Search Committee for their commitment to this process in recent months.”

“Mike has been a resolute advocate and steward of NATOA for years and we are excited that he is stepping up to fill this role for local government rights, management and advocacy in the telecom space,” said NATOA President Michael Russo of Calabasas. “I would also like to recognize our past presidents who guided this successful search:  Jodie Miller of Minnesota’s Northern Dakota County Cable Communications Commission (NDC4); Ken Fellman of Kissinger & Fellman, P.C., Denver, Colorado; and, Brian Roberts, City and County of San Francisco, California.”

As NATOA Legislative Director, Mike will be responsible for advancing policy positions, advocacy, legislative and strategic development, as well as for tracking and analyzing federal and state legislative and regulatory initiatives.  Ms. Rideout advised the NATOA board of the appointment during their annual NATOA planning session last week prior to meeting with the FCC.

“Joining NATOA as legislative director gives me the best of both worlds by allowing me to continue to advocate for the broadband & equity issues that all of us in local government care about,” said Mike Lynch.  “As a longtime board member, president and treasurer of the NATOA, it’s been fabulous working closely with local government cable and PEG folks in cities, towns and counties to address issues like Wireless Siting, broadband planning and funding, cable licensing, and other matters at the nexus of local government telecom, communications, and right-of-way policies.”

Mike has been the longtime Director of Broadband & Digital Equity for the City of Boston, MA, where he is responsible for all aspects of Digital Equity & Inclusion efforts; licensing, compliance and consumer advocacy for wireless, broadband and cable providers; PEG programming and funding support; and as a longtime partner to Boston Neighborhood Network Media (BNN) and Tech Goes Home (TGH.)

Mike is active in local gov broadband issues through the National League of Cities’ Information Technology Committee, Public Technology Institute and the Alliance for Community Media.  On the local  level, he volunteers at Boston Latin School Association, the Roche Community Center, Boston Centers for Youth and Families and the Massachusetts Open Water Swimming Association.  He is married with 2 adult children.

Mike’s start date with NATOA is January 16, 2023, and he will be reachable at MLynch@natoa.org and 703-519-8035 x 202 (w), or 617-327-8028.