Communications Advisory Council
Meeting Challenges & Opportunities With Strategic And Tactical Approaches Based On Forward Looking Thinking Developed From Successful Experience
About Communications Advisory Council
Members of the Communications Advisory Council offer providers of broadband telecom, video and wireless services with a broad range of counsel, guidance, and analysis. Membership on the Communications Advisory Council is offered only to individuals and firms with a proven record of success in providing professional services and assistance related to operations, business mergers, acquisitions and sales, regulation, and public policy development.
Although Einstein and the other members of our Honorary Council Board are not available to assist independent broadband and telecom providers, they inspire our service and reflect the level of excellence to which we aspire. And, with no disrespect to our Honorary Council Board members, the Communications Advisory Council has more direct experience and knowledge in the field of independent telecom and broadband operations, transactions, regulatory issues and related public policy advocacy.
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Honorary Council Board of Advisers And Inspirers
Albert Einstein
The renowned physicist may be best noted for the theory of relativity , but he is most important to the Advisory Council for establishing the process we employ in addressing any problem or issue. (Einstein's guidance)
Alexander Graham Bell
Bell is best noted as the "inventor" of a communications device that gained nearly worldwide adoption in the twentieth century prior to the invention of the iPhone. Although Bell is often credited as "inventor," we look to him for his model guidance on how to win a race to the patent office.
Samuel Morse
Morse, the inventor of the single-wire telegraph and Morse Code, was also a respected painter. Although Mr. Morse is no longer active as a consultant or advisor, his perseverance remains an inspiration:
"Telegraphs will always be preferred because they are not limited to 280 characters." Attributed to Samuel Morse
Nikola Tesla
An inventor, engineer, and futurist noted for the development of the AC electric current supply system. Mr. Tesla has observed that he can not advise clients on whether to buy or sell Tesla stock at its current price levels.
"The present is theirs; the future, for which I really worked, is mine."
- Nikola Tesla
Warren Buffett
The nation's premier investor, also known as the Oracle of Omaha, may not be available to us as an advisor, but his wisdom and guidance is an ever-present guidepost that informs The Independent Fund:
"Never invest in a business you cannot understand."
- Warren Buffett
Katharine Graham
Graham led her family's company, The Washington Post, she was the first female CEO of a fortune 500 company. Graham's leadership of the Post, including its broadcast stations, is associated with an era of journalistic and media excellence. Unlike Jeff Bezos, the current Post owner, Graham does not offer advice on space exploration.
Hedy Lamarr
Lamarr is best known as an actress to the baby boomer generation and their parents, Lamarr. Less generally known is her key role in the development of spread spectrum technology.
"The unknown was always so attractive to me...and still is."
Alan Turing
Turing is the father of modern computer science and artificial intelligence, and largely responsible for the development of the concepts of algorithm and computation. To the extent his contributions were used by Google and Facebook, those events would have taken place before Turing took his place on our Board.
If I had an hour to solve a problem and my life depended on the solution, I would spend the first 55 minutes determining the proper question to ask for once I know the proper question, I could solve the problem in less than five minutes.
-Albert Einstein
More About Communications Advisory Council
The Communications Advisory Council was initiated by Communications Advisory Counsel, a legal and consulting firm, that provided legal services to the independent telecommunications community for over 25 years until 2019 when the original principles of the firm, Sylvia Lesse and Stephen Kraskin, retired from the practice of law.
The firm, which was originally known as Kraskin & Lesse, initially concentrated on representation of Independent Telephone Companies in proceedings before the FCC and state commissions in matters involving access charges, toll settlements, and other rate of return and interconnection issues. Throughout its years of service, the firm focused on telecommunications policy, regulatory issues and transactions. The firm assisted in the founding and implementation of the Rural Broadband Alliance, the Rural Cellular Association, and the Rural Independent Competitive Alliance. The firm's lead partners also participated in the creation and direction of several telecommunications companies, and served on the Boards of Directors of both publicly and privately held companies.
Communications Advisory Council, under the direction of managing member Stephen Kraskin, continues to provide consulting services, often working on client projects in a team approach with other individual professional service providers and firms. Communications Advisory Council is the developer and administrator of the Independent Forum, and publishes the Independent Telecom Report, the “Back Page” and other publications which are subscribed to by several hundred telecommunications companies, financial analysts and government and Congressional offices.