Brendan Carr, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, has named Jonathan Williams as the agency’s chief economist.
The FCC said Monday that Williams will lead the Office of Economics and Analytics, or OEA, and advise Carr and other commissioners on economic issues.
“I’m excited that Dr. Williams will lend his talents to the FCC as we continue to integrate economic analysis into our decision-making,” Carr stated.
Who Is Jonathan Williams?
Williams most recently served as a professor of economics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he also led the university’s Center for Regulatory and Industrial Studies as director.
Before joining UNC-Chapel Hill in 2015, Williams was an assistant professor at the University of Georgia and an instructor at the University of Virginia.
An accomplished researcher, Williams’ work focuses on industrial organization and applied econometrics. His research has appeared in numerous academic journals and he has presented at seminars across the country over the past decade.
He was also an academic affiliate for the International Center for Law & Economics, a non-profit research organization that promotes the application of law and economics methodologies in policy creation.
Williams holds bachelor’s degrees in economics and applied mathematics from Ohio University and his doctorate degree in economics from the University of Virginia.
What Are the Responsibilities of the OEA?
The OEA was established in 2018 to conduct benefit-cost analysis for rules that may have major impacts on the economy.
According to the FCC website, the office also develops and implements data practices and policies and oversees spectrum auctions and some of the commission’s data collections.
