WASHINGTON-Steven Berry, the No. 2 official at the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association, is leaving the organization to direct lobbying for the cable TV industry.
The National Cable & Telecommunications Association said Berry, who served as senior vice president of government affairs at CTIA since 1997 and lost out to Steve Largent in competition to replace Thomas Wheeler as head of the cellular trade group, will begin Jan. 2 as senior vice president of government relations at NCTA.
CTIA confirmed Berry was leaving the organization, saying the departure was voluntary and that Berry and Largent have had a good working relationship since the latter’s start at the association earlier this month
“CTIA has not yet addressed the issue of succession,” said Travis Larson, a spokesman for the association.
Berry, a Republican, complemented former CTIA chief Wheeler, a Democrat, in lobbying wireless issues before Congress, regulatory agencies and the White House. In recent years, with the GOP controlling both Congress and the White House, Berry was a particularly valuable asset at CTIA.
However, there are no indications Largent, a conservative Republican, is looking for a similar balance in lobbying, and he may well decide to replace Berry with another Republican.
