Greenlight Networks Strengthens Board of Directors with Appointment of Former FCC and California PUC Commissioner Rachelle Chong
Chong will play a crucial role in helping Greenlight navigate regulatory environment as the company rapidly expands in and outside of New York State
ROCHESTER, NY (NOV. 30, 2023) – Greenlight Networks, the leading provider of high-speed fiber internet services in New York State, is pleased to announce the appointment of former Commissioner Rachelle Chong to its Board of Directors. A distinguished national telecommunications regulatory expert, she is a former Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission and of the California Public Utilities Commission. Chong brings a wealth of experience and strategic insight that will contribute to Greenlight Networks’ continued growth and commitment to delivering cutting-edge connectivity solutions to residents of New York State and beyond.
“It’s an honor to join Greenlight Networks and contribute to its important mission of providing high-quality, high-speed Internet services in communities that lack it,” said Chong. “The broadband landscape is at a pivotal moment with national attention on both Digital Divide and Digital Equity issues. As a long-time advocate of broadband as an economic driver, I look forward to collaborating with the Greenlight board and the leadership team to further accelerate the Company’s efforts to bring reliable and resilient broadband to consumers.”
Chong is a trailblazer in the telecommunications industry, with a career marked by public service at both the federal and state level, and an early dedication to broadband initiatives starting in 2006 when she created a state broadband grant fund at the California PUC, achieved early voluntary broadband mapping by incumbent providers in her home state, and implemented consumer reforms such as in-language requirements and creation of CPUC webpages explaining the new telecommunications competitive landscape to consumers. In recent years, she has also volunteered her time to lead the Schools Healthcare Libraries Broadband Coalition (SHLB) as Chairwoman, to bring community anchor institutions like school and libraries gigabit speed broadband and to serve as providers of broadband to disadvantaged and low income communities. With her deep regulatory background and extensive network, Chong will help Greenlight navigate regulatory challenges and opportunities as the company continues to rapidly expand in and outside New York.
“As Greenlight Networks continues to expand our reach and navigate the dynamic landscape of telecommunications, having experts like Rachelle Chong will be invaluable to us,” said Mark Murphy, CEO of Greenlight Networks. “Ms. Chong has been a national leader in broadband and has been a driving force behind significant advancements in the sector. Her innovation and strategic guidance will be instrumental in shaping the future of Greenlight Networks as we continue to invest in fiber-optic infrastructure and enhance our services.”
A recognized thought leader, Chong regularly speaks at national conferences about the intersection of communications and energy transformation, bridging the digital divide, and adopting advanced technologies for grid modernization and disaster recovery. She is a registered California lobbyist, strategic consultant, and career regulatory lawyer. In her career, she has been a law partner at two international law firms including Graham & James and Coudert Brothers; General Counsel for two start-ups (Broadband Office and Sidecar); VP of Government Affairs for a large national cable company; and senior policy counsel for the California Department of Technology. She currently serves on the advisory council for the Electric Power Research Institute. She holds a J.D. law degree from UC College of the Law, San Francisco and dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Political Science and Journalism from UC Berkeley. She founded her solo law and lobbying practice in July 2013 in San Francisco, where she currently resides.
About Greenlight Networks
Greenlight Networks is an ultra-high-speed, broadband service provider, offering residential and small business customers Internet speeds up to 5 Gigabits per second. Greenlight Networks was founded in 2011 and builds, owns, and operates a fiber-optic network that provides extremely high-speed Internet connections. The company’s high-speed fiber Internet network is currently available to more than 150,000 homes in 24 municipalities in the Rochester, Buffalo, Binghamton, and Albany areas. For more information, visit GreenlightNetworks.com or find it on Facebook.com/GreenlightNetworks, and @GreenlightFiber on Twitter.