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Information Economy Project Remembers Clay T. Whitehead
A great American, and valued friend of the IEP, has been lost. Clay "Tom" Whitehead was a key historical figure, driving radical notions about competition in telecommunications before those ideas were in vogue.
Indeed, when Dr. Whitehead organized the White House Office of Telecommunications Policy in 1971, most countries considered the U.S. a bit odd for having a private monopoly, AT&T, rather than a state PTT. Tom saw what others missed, however, envisioning a world in which private rivals offered businesses and individuals competitive voice, video, or data services, tapping into innovative technologies and delivering the efficiencies of the market. |
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The quality of that vision is reflected in the fact that today -- not four decades later -- it seems utterly obvious. Not nearly so when Tom launched his regulatory initiative, achieving one fundamental redefinition of U.S. policy -- the "open skies" policy in satellites -- and laying the predicate for myriad reforms to come.
After an illustrious government career, Tom achieved great success as an entrepreneur, and in recent years settled back into academia as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at GMU Law School.
We were privileged to have Tom Whitehead as a colleague, and deeply saddened by his passing. Our sympathy extends to his family and friends, of which there were very many. We are honored to have been included in that fine circle.
News Commentary
Clay T. Whitehead, Guide of Policy That Helped Cable TV, Is Dead at 69, New York Times (July 31, 2008)
Clay Whitehead, 69; Changed TV Landscape, Washington Post (July 29, 2008)
Things Worth Remembering, Telecommunications Policy Review (July 27, 2008)
Appreciation: His ideas launched the future, Miami Herald (Aug. 3, 2008)
Mason Gazette: Former Distinguished Visiting Professor Whitehead Dies (Aug. 1, 2008)
Tribute to Clay T. Whitehead (TPRC 2009)
Tribute to Tom Whitehead, by Lisa Sockett (Sept. 25, 2009)
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