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Print Edition StoriesThursday, June 18, 2009
Governor Patrick picks Why as new telco & cable dept. head
By MHT Staff
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Geoffrey Why, the general counsel in the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Cable, has been named by Gov. Deval Patrick as the department’s new commissioner.
Why replaces Sharon Gillett, who was named director of the Massachusetts Broadband Institute, which was formed last summer to help advance broadband penetration in the rural areas. Gillett had served as the head of the Telecommunications and Cable department since April of 2007.
According to the governor’s office, Why has a background in rooting out impropriety in the telecom and wireless sector. He investigated and won a settlement against three cell phone service providers that allegedly engaged in deceptive advertising, provided inadequate disclosures at point-of-sale and utilized unclear billing statements. That settlement included a $5 million payment. Why also led a multi-state investigation that resulted in a settlement with three national leasing companies who financed fraudulent software and telecommunications equipment and services, the office said.
Why has been serving as the department’s general counsel since October of 2007.
Before joining the department, Why served as an assistant attorney general in the attorney general office’s Consumer Protection and Antitrust Division from April of 2001 through October of 2007. He also served in the Suffolk County district attorney’s office, as an assistant district attorney in the appellate division, from September of 1998 through April of 2001.
Why is a graduate of Boston College with bachelor’s degrees in political science and philosophy, and Boston College Law School.
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