The Role Remodeler

Karen Guthrie King: Stints in broadcasting, cable and wireless cracked the boy's club. Two years at the PCIA got her inside the Beltway. Now an attorney in training and senior regulatory advisor for D.C. law firm Venable. Accumulates stuff—like experience.

A series of baby steps led me to where I am today. My interest in technology started in high school, when I was picked by an English teacher to work for an educational television program in Chicago. I went on to do undergraduate and graduate work in radio and television. After a job with a Catholic station in Chicago, I began working for the suburb of Mount Prospect on cable regulation.

Representing suburban Illinois cities on cable issues as an independent consultant led me to a job with TCI. While I was there, an opportunity to work with U.S. Cellular came my way. It was then that I learned cable regulation and wireless regulation are not so far apart from one another.

My wireless focus continued when LLC International sent me to Washington, D.C., to be the national director of wireless zoning. Then was offered the position with the PCIA, where I represented wireless tower owners on federal regulation.

I have become a firm believer in wireless. The industry has changed dramatically since the first day I stepped into U.S. Cellular. I remember I had written a speech for one of the executives about all of the new products available at the time, one of which was the Motorola StarTAC. It was selling for $1000 then. Now we can get it for free.

My transition from the PCIA to Venable is interesting because it's a totally different environment. I'm working on a broad range of telecom issues and putting all of my past experience to use. I'm a pack rat, so I have all of the cable stuff I've worked on since 1984 and wireless stuff dating back to 1996.

The telecom industry might remain dominated by men, but I think that's because it's a technical field. I was just at a cable meeting — I won't mention the city where it was held — and one gentleman said it's surprising to see a lady in such a technical field. We sometimes don't recognize the groundbreaking that already has happened in the industry. When I was starting out in broadcasting, women were doing the weather — if they were LUCKY. —As told to Kelly Carroll