Steve
Harris
Background
2004- Present STEVEN
M. HARRIS LEGAL AND MANAGEMENT CONSULTING
Work
with a variety of telecommunications and internet companies on legal issues,
strategic matters,
organizational design and implementation. Clients include fiber and wireless service
providers as well
as web access service providers. I also act as corporate counsel and executive
consultant for Project
Gutenberg
and other non-profit organizations.
2003-2004 LOGOVOX SYSTEMS, INC.
President
Led creation of software-based communication and learning tool for people with autism or
other expressive language disabilities, including management of business development, strategy, marketing
and other corporate aspects. Terminated project after inadequate market response.
2002-2003 COMETA NETWORKS, INC.
Vice President - Corporate Affairs
Retained to build organization and infrastructure for wireless data access wholesaler created by AT&T,
IBM, Intel, Apax and 3i. Established corporate structure and operations, designed and built legal,
financial, human resource, corporate communications and business development functions.
1998-2002 SOFTNET SYSTEMS, INC.
Senior
Vice President-Corporate Affairs & General Counsel
Responsible for legal, corporate and external affairs for publicly-held, global broadband internet services
provider using cable, satellite and wireless technologies; including M&A, contracts, public policy, litigation,
corporate and securities, IP and compliance. Managed human resources, corporate communications and
corporate strategic and organizational development.
As SoftNet moved from a diverse
collection of businesses to an internet-focused group, I managed
·
business acquisitions, sales and discontinuances;
· creation of contractual frameworks and legal and operational policies and legal support
mechanisms for multiple business operations;
·
creation of international subsidiaries, investments and joint ventures;
·
a secondary public offering;
·
multiple private placements;
·
creation and operation of stock option and other benefit plans.
satellite division; built
and grew legal and multi-disciplinary teams; and acted as designated ‘adult’.
Following a corporate repositioning, I continued to provide legal and strategic guidance to the transitional
management team.
1983-1998 PACIFIC TELESIS GROUP
Vice
President, Broadband Services, 1993-1998
Part of the leadership team for PacTel’s entry into video services and creation of "information superhighway"
network. Developed public policy positions and defined business strategy. Built team for federal, state and
local government relations, public policy, community relations, regulatory, public relations, industry affairs and
issues management; also led telecommunications
marketing group.
Executive Director, Regulatory Planning and
Policy, 1987-93
Managed development of public policy and helped frame business initiatives relating to competition, corporate
structure, privacy, jurisdiction and new technologies (e.g., cable, wireless access and enhanced services).
Provided policy consultation to company strategic planners. Supervised annual tariff filing. Oversaw
interactions with regulators, customers and
competitors.
Executive Director, Federal Regulatory Relations, Washington,
D.C., 1983-87
Represented Pacific Telesis before FCC and participated in development of regulatory and related
issues on behalf of Pacific Bell, its cellular, international and other affiliates. Built regulatory lobbying
group as PacTel was
created.
1981-1983 FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Legal
Assistant to Commissioner Stephen Sharp
Advised the Commissioner on policy and legal matters, particularly those related to international
and mass media issues.
Legal Assistant to Ambassador Michael Gardner
Provided legal and policy advice to the U. S. Delegation to the International Telecommunications
Union Plenipotentiary Conference, Nairobi.
Special Assistant to the General Counsel
Advised Commissioners, General Counsel and staff on a variety of policy and legal matters
of a sensitive or unusual nature, including
international legal issues.
1979-1981 SCHNADER, HARRISON, SEGAL AND LEWIS
Associate
Attorney
Participated in trial, appellate and administrative litigation, primarily in the communications and
antitrust areas; drafted pleadings and corporate
documents.
EDUCATION
University of Michigan Law School, J.
D., Cum Laude, 1979;
Editor-in-Chief, Vol. 1,
Michigan Yearbook of International Legal Studies
PUBLICATIONS
"Regulation
of ‘Private’ Telecommunications Networks”,
1 Telecommunications Law Journal 1 (1989)
A Legislative History of the Communications Act of 1934, Board of Editors, New York: Oxford
University Press (1990)
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Admitted
to the District of Columbia Bar, 1979
Trustee, Golden Jubilee Commission on Telecommunications 1984-2001
Faculty, PLI Seminar on Cable Television Law, 1994-2000
Guest Lecturer, Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley, 1994-98
Board of Directors and Treasurer, Peaceful Streets, Inc., 1998-2003
Legal Counsel,
Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, 2001-Present
Board of
Directors, Friends of the