Alec Ross

Why He Matters

Ross may have launched his non-profit One Economy out of a basement, but he had high hopes for its future. His goals were so lofty that he sent dozens of cold emails to Bill Gates and other industry titans to convince them to invest in the fledgling operation. They did, and now One Economy is a multi-million dollar enterprise dedicated to closing the digital divide between social classes. Kang, Cecilia, "Diplomatic Efforts Get Tech Support," The Washington Post, April 4, 2009

Entrepreneurial spirit and aggressive drive are Ross’ hallmarks (his friend once gave him a framed photo of a pit bull as a gift). They are also the qualities that made him an asset to President Barack Obama ’s 2008 presidential campaign, where he was one of the key architects of the candidate’s technology policy.

In 2009, Ross brought his talents to the State Department, where he was named senior adviser for innovation to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton . There he is tasked with figuring out how to use the global communications network to address health pandemics, human rights violations, poverty and diplomacy.
 

Path to Power

Ross grew up near Charleston, W. Va. He always had big dreams – in 6th grade, he told his teacher he wanted to be president. “He got real offended because they said, 'President of what?'” his mother Betsy told the Charleston Gazette in April 2009. “He said, the president.'"Wells, Sandy, “Technology Sage; Charleston native joins Clinton as senior adviser on innovation,” Charleston Gazette, April 19, 2009

He moved to Rome for a year in seventh grade to live with his grandfather, the commercial minister at the American embassy. “That year they spent in Rome was probably the most significant in his life,” his mother told the Charleston Gazette in April 2009. He returned to the University of Bologna in his junior year of college and is fluent in Italian.Wells, Sandy, “Technology Sage; Charleston native joins Clinton as senior adviser on innovation,” Charleston Gazette, April 19, 2009

After graduating in 1994 from Northwestern University, Ross moved to Baltimore to work for Teach for America. He has not left the city despite his new Washington job, because it keeps him “planted in reality.”Kang, Cecilia, "Diplomatic Efforts Get Tech Support," The Washington Post, April 4, 2009

In 1996, Ross accepted a position as special assistant to the president of the Enterprise Foundation, which develops affordable housing across the country. He focused on developing business, technology and fundraising strategies."Innovator Alec Ross Joins State Dept.," National Journal, April 6, 2009

In 2000, he co-founded the non-profit One Economy, which uses technology to help low-income communities. The organization focused on providing thousands of low-income homes Internet access. It also created an online web site called The Beehive. The site, which is part networking service, allows users to access a range of resources, from personal finance advice to homework help.Chen, Michelle, “Activists Bring the Digital Frotier to New Communities,” DissidentVoice.org, Jan. 2, 2005

The multi-billion dollar organization was built with donations from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Cisco, Yahoo and AT&T.

The Issues

Ross’ main focus has been closing the digital divide by bringing broadband into the homes of low-income residents. Using technology, he has developed online hubs of information on jobs, health care and education. One Economy web site

In May 2007, he developed an ambitious proposal for providing every 6th grader in the U.S. a laptop. He argued that the plan, which estimates costing $2 billion a year, is vital to addressing the education gap and keeping the American work force competitive. “Giving our children the tools for computer literacy is the 21st century equivalent to teaching them how to read,” he wrote in a May 2007 paper.  “Achieving the American dream in this century increasingly requires fluency in the ways of this network.” Ross, Alec and Rosenberg, Simon, “A Laptop in Every Backpack,” NDN Globalization Initiative, May 1, 2007

Ross’ appointment is part of a broader movement by the Obama administration to bring broadband and information technology to the forefront of policymaking. “The Administration is still on track in its efforts to have a coherent broadband policy,” analyst Harold Feld wrote in April 2009. “It is continuing to view broadband and technology as a critical element of broader economic and policy development goals.” Feld, Harold, “Alec Ross Goes To State: Administration Doubling Down On Tech For Development,” Policy Blog, April 6, 2009  

The Network

During the Obama campaign, Ross worked with technology advisers Julius Genachowski , now chairman-designate of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and Blair Levin, now a telecommunications analyst. In his State Department job, he will partner with the Commerce Department’s Lawrence Strickling, who helped Ross develop Obama’s high-tech policy, and FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein. Silva, Jeffrey, “Obama Tech Policy Team Borrows From Clinton Years,” RCR Wireless News, Sept. 1, 2008