About
John M. Lawson, President
John Lawson is President of Convergence Services, Inc., a consulting firm focused on spectrum, resilience, NextGen TV business models, including education and intelligent transportation. The firm specializes in ‘techno-political strategy.’
Through his firm John serves as Executive Director of the Advanced Warning and Response Network (AWARN) Alliance, an international coalition of broadcasting, consumer electronics, and professional tech companies. The Alliance is leveraging NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) to develop an advanced system for emergency alerting, news, and information, increasingly important as our societies respond to the current and future pandemics and the effects of climate change.
John was one of four signatories to the original Joint Petition that led to FCC approval of ATSC 3.0 transmission in 2017. John served on FEMA’s National Advisory Council IPAWS Subcommittee (2017-2018) and graduated from FEMA’s Emergency Management Executive Academy (2018). He was an expert panelist at the White House Earthquake Resilience Summit in 2016 and has served on three FCC emergency communications advisory committees.
John led CSI from its founding in 1994 to his becoming CEO of the Association of Public Television Stations (APTS). He led efforts that secured hundreds of millions in federal funding for the digital transition of stations, increased funding for education programs, and negotiated the largest digital cable carriage deal in history. Later, he was Executive VP of ION Media Networks and Executive Director of the Mobile500 Alliance. Board service includes the National Association of Broadcasters, the Open Mobile Video Coalition, and Senior Warden of Historic Christ Church in Alexandria, Virginia.
A frequent speaker at conferences, and events, John’s awards include the Individual Technology Leadership Award from TV of Tomorrow in 2018 and the Academy of Digital Television Pioneers Award from CES in 2008. John earned BA and MA degrees in International Studies at the University of South Carolina.
jlawson@convg.org
+1 (703) 347-7070
www.linkedin.com/in/johnmlawson/
AWARN.org
Kevin G. Curtin, of Counsel
Kevin G. Curtin has extensive experience in legislative and regulatory matters acquired during his more than four decades of experience on the staff of the United States Senate and in the private practice of law.
Mr. Curtin formerly was the Chief Counsel and Staff Director of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. In this capacity, he formulated, scheduled and secured enactment of legislative initiatives within the Committee’s seven subcommittees, as well as oversaw the Committee’s budget and supervised the Committee’s personnel. His responsibilities included developing strategy and furnishing parliamentary and procedural advice to the Committee. The programs of more than 20 federal agencies are under the purview of the Committee, including the Departments of Transportation and Commerce, the Federal Communications Commission, and the Federal Trade Commission.
Mr. Curtin had served previously as Senior Consumer Counsel on the Commerce Committee, where his responsibilities included issues relating to marketplace competition and insurance. He also served as Legislative Counsel, responsible for drafting the Committee’s bills and other legislative proposals. Mr. Curtin was consistently listed as one of the 50 most influential staff people on Capitol Hill by Roll Call magazine.
Upon his departure from Capitol Hill, he was a partner in the law firm of Bryan Cave LLP, where he served as the leader of the Regulatory Affairs, Public Policy and Legislation group. He continues the private practice of law from his own offices, where his practice is concentrated primarily in the transportation, telecommunications, and consumer areas.
Mr. Curtin holds a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center; a M.A. in legislative affairs from the George Washington University; and a B.A. in English from Fairfield University, cum laude. He has presented courses in constitutional and administrative law as a member of the adjunct faculty of Georgetown University’s graduate school. He is a member of the District of Columbia Bar, and the Federal Communications Bar Association.