Bio
Jim is a federal government-affairs executive and strategist with a strong economics background and 20+ years of experience leading policy strategy development and key victories in policy regulatory proceedings, transactions and acquisitions. His work has significantly contributed to Comcast’s growth during the past 20+ years. A highly effective coach, builder and leader of teams, Jim has leveraged his ability to motivate and inspire individuals and his passion for community impact and involvement by launching The KeePressingOn Project LLC, a coaching venture for businesses and executives.
Jim joined Comcast in 1997 as a Senior Director of Public Policy and quickly became Chief Policy Advisor of FCC & Regulatory Policy, and then Executive Director. He represented Comcast before the FCC, Congress, and other federal agencies concerning public policy issues involving cable TV, programming content, and equipment technology, and contributed to earning and building Comcast’s credibility in the eyes of the regulators and the public, especially during key earlier years. Serving as liaison to trade associations, he also represented Comcast in a wide range of industry matters and initiatives. Jim helped enhance Comcast’s reputation in the industry through leading various teams working on engineering policy issues that had a significant consumer and viewer impact, and helped guide impactful community outreach programs. To name just a few of his accomplishments: Jim helped accelerate profits and establish Comcast as the country's largest cable operator through early policy strategy development; led his team to an exceptional run of key victories on major issues before the FCC over a 9-year period; and mitigated potential risk of regulatory rulemakings and legislative hearings.
His expertise in FCC-related matters was founded at Miami University, Oxford, OH, where he was a Visiting Instructor (1987 – 1990) teaching courses on government and business (and the recipient of numerous awards), and was further strengthened following his appointment as an FCC Industry Economist, Broadcasting/Cable (1990 – 1993), leading a team of attorneys in implementing key provisions of the 1992 Cable Act, and later as Chief Economist on wireless matters. Jim received special commendations from Commissioners James H. Quello and Andrew Barrett for his work, and was the principal author of 5 Commission broadcasting/cable rulemakings. In the following years (1993 – 1997), he continued to serve as Special Counsel to the two Commissioners, developing policy positions, representing them on policy matters and rulemakings regarding telephone, cable television, and other telecom issues.
Jim’s commitment to seek positive changes to help others enabled the success of well-received community/ customer initiatives. He helped develop and execute Comcast’s outreach and raised government and family awareness regarding use of parental control capability; and led a regulatory team regarding the Company’s work in developing media and Internet tools to enhance accessibility for sight- and hearing-impaired communities. Jim also helped develop corporate initiatives to create digital technology opportunities, community and school partnerships, and enhanced Comcast’s employees’ community engagement.
Jim founded the Bright Lights Tutoring in 1993 for 4 – 6th grade students in Washington, DC, where he created/funded a special reading library, recruited/coached volunteer tutors and provided yearly community events. Recently, he established his own LLC (The KeePressingOn Project) for executive coaching and community involvement—he will receive his International Coaching Federation Associate Coach certification in January 2020.
He has a BA and MA in Economics from Miami University, is a member of industry and community organizations, and teamed with his partner for numerous major titles at national Dancesport pro-am competitions from 2007 to 2019, including Top Gold Gentleman for the DanceVision Circuit, 2018 – 2019 season.
