WASHINGTON, DC - NCTA today announced the promotion of David Pierce, Director of Public Affairs, and Rick Cimerman, Director of State Telecommunications Policy, to Senior Director.
"David is an invaluable member of NCTA's Public Affairs team, and his promotion is well deserved," said Jim Ewalt, NCTA's Vice President of Public Affairs. "As senior director, he will have an increased role in shaping the department's strategy and developing public affairs programs for the industry."
"Rick's knowledge of telecommunications issues and his skill in advocating cable positions before state legislatures and PUCS have been a tremendous asset to the industry - especially during efforts to defeat forced access legislation," said Jadz Janucik, NCTA's Senior Vice President of Association Affairs. "Cable benefits greatly from his dedication and expertise."
Pierce joined NCTA in 1990 as Director of Research and Policy Analysis, responsible for developing analysis of telecommunications public policy issues affecting the cable industry. In 1996, he became a Director of NCTA's Public Affairs department, overseeing public opinion research with cable customers and policymakers. In this role, he also has supervised industry-image and issue-advocacy advertising. Prior to working for NCTA, Pierce conducted economic research/analyses of antitrust and public policy as a Research Analyst at National Economic Research Associates (DC and NY). He graduated from Boston College with a Bachelor's Degree in economics and from George Washington University with a Master's in public policy.
Cimerman has been NCTA's Director of State Telecommunications Policy since 1995. In this position, he has assisted state cable associations and cable companies as they work with Public Utility Commissions to facilitate local telecommunications competition and has testified nationwide against forced access. He also has helped cable companies work with the educational community on technology issues. He is the immediate past president of the National Coalition for Technology and Education in Training (NCTET). Prior to joining NCTA, Cimerman served as Director of the Telecommunications Division of the Maryland Public Service Commission while Maryland became one of the first states to allow local exchange competition. Before that, he worked at the Florida Public Service Commission. Cimerman received Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Economics from the University of Florida, where he studied public utility economics at the University's Public Utility Research Center (PURC).