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Mary Brown

Cisco

Mary L. Brown joined Cisco in 2004 and serves as senior director of technology and spectrum policy in Washington, D.C.. Among the issues she follows are homeland security, wireless, and lawful intercept. During her career, she has worked as a consultant, as in-house counsel for the pre-bankruptcy MCI, and for approximately 10 years as a staff lawyer and manager at the Federal Communications Commission. In addition to telecommunications issues, she has substantial experience in Internet law and policy, as well as wireless issues. She holds a J.D. with honors from the Syracuse College of Law, and a Master of Science in telecommunications from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse. She is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Articles

June 23, 2020

HIGH TECH POLICY

Moving Wi-Fi Forward: It Takes Great People and Great Technology

3 min read

Cisco is thrilled that the Wi-Fi Alliance has honored Cisco with the 2020 Industry Impact Award for outstanding contributions to regulatory changes needed to make 6 GHz spectrum available for unlicensed use, and our Distinguished Architect Stephen Orr with its 2020 Mission Specialist Award for his outstanding contributions to the WFA Security Marketing and WFA […]

May 8, 2020

HIGH TECH POLICY

Using Wi-Fi? Thank a 35 year-old FCC decision which laid the path for today’s age of connectivity

4 min read

New technologies don’t just arrive, wholly formed, on the doorstep of customers. The right people, building blocks, business drivers, and regulations need to be in place to make them happen.

December 5, 2019

HIGH TECH POLICY

The Evolution of Next-Generation Technologies Requires Increased Spectrum Access

2 min read

Today I had the opportunity to testify in front of the Senate Commerce Committee about the MOBILE NOW Act, legislation that has revolutionized spectrum policy. As lawmakers look towards the future, I asked them to join me looking back; let’s think back to 2003. In 2003, we didn’t have Smart TVs; they were still dumb. […]

May 2, 2019

HIGH TECH POLICY

The World Runs on Wi-Fi: With Wi Fi 6, Now Is the Time to Open Up More Unlicensed Spectrum for It

2 min read

At Cisco, we are excited about the generational advance of Wi-Fi 6. To experience the full power of Wi-Fi 6 and 5G technologies, policymakers must find more spectrum for Wi-Fi.

February 18, 2019

HIGH TECH POLICY

I’m Not Tired of Wi-Fi! Are You?

2 min read

Wi-Fi traffic is expected to triple by 2022. If Wi-Fi occupies spectrum throughout the 6 GHz range, there could be enough spectrum to support future Wi-Fi demand.

October 24, 2018

HIGH TECH POLICY

Fueled by Spectrum: A Fast-Growing Safety Ecosystem for Autonomous Vehicles & Intelligent Transportation

2 min read

It took over 20 years for the automobile to begin showing its dominance in transportation with the best-selling Model T. Even when the Model T saw its production end in...

October 23, 2018

HIGH TECH POLICY

What Washington Can Do for You: Enable Wi-Fi to Deliver the 5G, IoT, & AI-Powered Future

2 min read

Here’s something to celebrate: Washington policymakers are looking to increase Wi-Fi’s capacity and move toward a hyper-connected era by expanding Wi-Fi into 6 GHz.

August 3, 2017

HIGH TECH POLICY

Mid-Band Spectrum: the Goldilocks Bands

2 min read

Today’s announcement from the Federal Communications Commission that it is launching a “Notice of Inquiry” for mid-band spectrum is a development that wireless users can cheer, just as industry players already have. That’s because by the time this spectrum gets released for commercial use in a couple of years, rising demand for wireless data from […]

January 24, 2017

HIGH TECH POLICY

Mobile NOW = Mobile Tomorrow

2 min read

With thousands of megahertz of new spectrum allocations and assignments in various stages of completion, one might wonder – do we still need Mobile NOW?