Verizon's Michael McKeehan Named to NTIA's Online Safety and Technology Working Group
April 8, 2009
Group Formed to Provide a Safe Environment for Children Using the Internet
WASHINGTON, DC – April 7, 2009 – Michael McKeehan, Verizon’s executive director, Internet and technology policy, has been named to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Online Safety and Technology Working Group.
The group, established by the Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act, will report to the assistant secretary of commerce for communications and information and to Congress on industry efforts to promote a safe online environment for children.
Verizon, which serves millions of broadband connections across the country, has a long-standing commitment to Internet safety, said McKeehan. I am honored to be selected as a member of this working group, and am looking forward to collaborating with the other members to address the important issue of providing a safe online environment for children.
At Verizon, McKeehan is responsible for developing policy strategies for next-generation network and service platforms.
McKeehan previously served on the MySpace/AG social networking task force and the NCTA blue ribbon panel on online safety. He currently serves as the vice chairman of the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI.org). He also serves on the board of directors of the U.S. Internet Industry Association and the Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee.
Previously, McKeehan was a member of the technical staff in the Verizon technology organization, responsible for developing platform and service requirements for a variety of initiatives. He holds multiple U.S. patents on call-forwarding services using advanced intelligent networking technology. He has a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering, an M.B.A and a law degree, all from the University of Maryland, and is a member of the Maryland and federal bar associations.
Verizon is engaged in Internet safety on multiple fronts, providing customers with an industry-leading slate of online cyber-security tools and education programs to empower educators, parents and children. Verizon also works closely with law enforcement to assist with investigations involving crimes against children, and with partners such as I-SAFE to deliver tools and information to various segments of the community. Verizon has also long been a supporter of efforts to encourage content providers to voluntarily label their Web sites, raise parental awareness of the benefits of labeling, and educate decision makers about the desirability of self-regulation of online content.
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America’s most reliable wireless network, serving more than 80 million customers nationwide. Verizon’s Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world, and Verizon Telecom, which brings customers the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation’s most advanced fiber-optic network. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of nearly 224,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $97 billion.
