John Howell manages Stateside’s Regulatory Services Division. The Division is comprised of regulatory attorneys and supports clients with research, ongoing monitoring, forecasting and compliance resources focused on state regulations. Deep with issue expertise and process knowledge, the Division is well-appreciated by clients for its ability to locate and convey critical information in a timely and precise manner. John also provides issue management services to Stateside clients, supporting strategic planning, advocacy and work with state and local officials Groups.

John has more than 15 years of regulatory affairs experience at Fortune 500 companies and start-up ventures in telecommunications. His expertise includes telecommunications law, policy, regulatory compliance, interoperability, and public safety communications; cybersecurity; Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) matters; and Federal Advisory Committee Act issues. He is a frequent speaker on regulatory issues before state commissions and industry organizations. John brings substantial experience with providing direct support to executive-level leadership on multiple complex public policy issues to his Stateside role. Before joining Stateside he served as Vice President and Counsel at the Pierson Group, LLC, where he provided leadership in deploying a national cybersecurity program, and as Director of External and Legal Affairs at Cyren Call Communications. At Cyren, he managed preparation of Congressional testimony and regulatory analysis related to wireless broadband interoperability for public safety communications, and managed grassroots advocacy before local, state, and federal regulators. Previously, John served as Director of Industry Affairs and Senior Counsel at Sprint Nextel, where he oversaw regulatory compliance. He led the deployment of Enhanced 911, which enables public safety personnel to quickly locate cell phone callers who cannot provide their location. He also helped negotiate the nation’s first agreement between national cell phone carriers that allowed customers who switched to a new carrier to keep the same phone number. He won Sprint Nextel Operational Excellence Awards for this effort and for his work as steering committee chair of the FCC’s Network Reliability and Interoperability Council (NRIC). In that capacity he advised the FCC on emergency communications, homeland security best practices, and nationwide deployment of broadband services. John’s early work experience includes practicing law as a trial attorney and managing large non-profit organizations. While in law school, he worked as Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward’s personal driver. John holds a B.A. from the University of Richmond and a J.D. from Quinnipiac University. He is a member of the Pennsylvania and Connecticut bar associations. He enjoys golf and baseball and is a native of Fairfield, CT.