By: Laura Phillips
Chris Bjornson has taken a career path that is not usual for a DC-based communications practitioner. He worked at several public policy roles in Texas and in DC before attending law school in the Communications Law program at the Catholic University of America. These days you can find him at Steptoe LLP where he is Of Counsel. Chris takes his FCBA membership role seriously and he is currently co-chair of the Transactional Practice Committee. He has also been a co-chair of the Access to Government, International Telecommunications, and Video Program and Distribution Committees. I was happy to have a chance to connect with Chris and find out a bit more about is career trajectory and thoughts about what makes a successful professional in our field.
Q: What attracted you to the field of communications?
A: My interest in the communications industry happened even before law school. It started with me seeing how important electronic communications were becoming in my professional life amidst a changing landscape in technology coupled with the then-pending Telecommunications Act of 1996. I decided to go to graduate school at the University of Texas’ Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs to start my education, which continued in law school and, with constant changes, up to this day.
Q: Tell us about the various places you’ve worked through the years.
A: I identify pretty strongly as a Texan. I attended UT as an undergrad and then my career started at the Travis County Tax Office coordinating voter registration drives. I then became a special assistant to the Tax Collector handling our legislative program and a variety of tax collection, motor vehicle registration and titling and voter registration issues. I helped get Motor Voter passed by the Texas Legislature before it was enacted nationally. I then moved with my boss to the Texas Attorney General’s Office to help run the child support enforcement program. So, a pretty wide range of positions and public policy duties. After graduate school I spent two years as a consultant to state governments, and then I attended law school. I went to work for Mintz and I have been with Steptoe since 2009.
Q: Have things unfolded in your career more or less the way you planned?
A: Back when I was at the Tax Office, I envisioned entering local politics someday and so far, that hasn’t happened and likely won’t. I had always thought about the law, though, and my public service days focused my thoughts on a career in communications law so that has come to pass. I knew then and know now that communications remains a dynamic field with the near constant introduction of disruptive technologies so that’s been one constant.
Q: What’s the most interesting or challenging thing that you’ve done in your current position?
A: The most interesting thing I have encountered in my time as a telecommunications attorney is the complexity and chaos of a World Radiocommunication Conference. I served as a member of the U.S. delegation for WRC-2015. The pace of the four-week conference moves from a slog to breakneck and back again, sometimes with no rhyme and reason. And the different approaches, positions, and tactics of the multitude of member states and voting blocs is fascinating to watch.
Q: Is or was there something interesting or someone who surprised or impressed you during your career and why?
A: The people who have impressed me the most are my mentors – Cecelia Burke (my first boss), Pantelis Michalopoulos, and Ben Griffin – all brilliant and effective. Someone who surprised and impressed me who comes from my time before law school when I was working on state election law for the tax office is Kevin Brady. I worked for a Democratic elected official, and he was a freshman state representative on the Elections Committee of the Texas House. He dealt with us honestly and supported our legislation after we answered all his questions in detail. I continued to interact with him and observe his Washington career where he would rise to become Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. He always maintained a sense of humility and caring about other people that we should all emulate (and I wish I could do so more consistently and successfully).
Q: What do you enjoy reading?
A: I enjoy reading presidential biographies, with an especial interest for those on LBJ. I have read at least one biography on each president. I just finished reading Drive by Tom Johnson who was a Special Assistant to LBJ and then President of CNN under Ted Turner.
Q: Is there something (a hobby or other tidbit) people don’t know about you that you are willing to share?
A:I have a friend from college who happened to be one of the people returning from Europe on September 11, 2001, whose flight was, like many others, diverted to the airport in Gander Canada. He wrote a book about his experience over those several days recounting the random acts of kindness he experienced in Gander. He also created a “pay it forward” project at his company in Austin where he gives his employees the day off on 9/11 and have them do three random acts of kindness in the community. His story is part of the Broadway (now, post-Broadway) play “Come from Away.” He ultimately started a non-profit charity named Pay It Forward 9/11. I serve on the board of directors. Among other things we are working on a school curriculum promoting about the importance of random acts of compassion and kindness in honor the people of Gander who selflessly served so many during those days and those who perished on 9/11.
Q: Can you share your perspective on the pitfalls to avoid or other career advice for those who are just getting started in the communications field?
A: Especially as it relates to interacting with the FCC or advocating for it, always try to think about the issues you are dealing with in the context of why they are in the public interest. It’s a critical step to go from what a client wants to formulating a sound basis as to why the result would also advance the interests of the public at large.
Q: How has your life changed as a result of COVID-19 and what are you looking forward to doing next?
A: Unfortunately, I think COVID-19 separated a lot of us from routine personal interaction. I hope we can see more socialization, but I fear that some of the decrease in in-person meetings or events has become somewhat permanent.
Q: How long have you been an FCBA member, and what to you is the value of FCBA membership?
A: I joined the FCBA in 2000 and have been a committee co-chair for one committee or another since 2002. While the networking and continuing education benefits of membership are obvious in terms of the events and CLE courses the FCBA offers, the advantages are manifold for committee co-chairs. We get to develop deeper relationships with our fellow co-chairs and even become experts in various sub-fields of communications law. I encourage more junior communications professionals to join and become active in whatever way is meaningful to them. You really cannot find a better association in terms of all that it offers its members.