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This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.
See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
December 17, 2013 Justin Cole, 202-418-8191
Email: Justin.cole@fcc.gov
CHAIRMAN WHEELER ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF ACTING DIRECTOR, OFFICE 
OF LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS
Washington, D.C. – Today, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler announced the appointment of Sara Morris as 
Acting Director of the FCC’s Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA) effective on January 2, 2014.  Ms. 
Morris has had a long career working on legislative and communications policy issues, including 
experience in Congress, the private sector, and the Executive Branch.  Acting Director Patrick Halley will 
become Associate Chief of the Wireline Competition Bureau where he will focus on policy and strategy 
for the Bureau’s high priority proceedings.  
Chairman Wheeler said, “Sara Morris comes to us with a wide range of government and private sector 
experience, coupled with telecommunications policy expertise.  She is extraordinarily well positioned to 
forge strong relationships across government that will serve the public interest by advancing effective 
communications policy.”
Chairman Wheeler also thanked Patrick Halley for his service as Acting director of OLA, stating, “Patrick 
has been invaluable in his role directing the OLA team with energy and excellent judgment.  Patrick will 
be a great addition to the WCB leadership team as we take on an extensive agenda that includes the Tech 
Transition and E-Rate modernization.”  
Ms. Morris comes to the FCC from the Department of Commerce, where she is Deputy Director of the 
Office of Congressional Affairs for the department’s National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration (NTIA). Her major areas of legislative and policy focus have included federal spectrum 
reallocation, establishment and implementation of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), 
Recovery Act broadband programs, and the digital TV transition. In addition to working with Members of 
Congress and staff, she has coordinated with state government officials, other federal agencies and the 
White House.
Prior to joining NTIA, she was a government affairs policy analyst at Paul, Hastings, Janofksy & Walker
LLP, and a telecommunications policy analyst at Verner Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson & Hand. She also 
has broad experience on Capitol Hill, where she worked for the Telecommunications and Finance 
Subcommittee of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, chaired by then-Rep. Ed Markey, as 
well as the Energy, Conservation & Power subcommittee and the House Select Committee on Aging.
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