President-elect Donald Trump said Sunday he plans to nominate Michael Kratsios, the U.S. chief technology officer during his first term, as White House Office of Science and Technology Policy director. Kratsios said to “ensure our Nation’s prosperity and security, we must unleash scientific breakthroughs and ensure America's technological dominance. Now we have the President who will make it happen. A Golden Age of American Innovation lies ahead!” Trump said he’s also naming Lynne Parker, who directs the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology's National AI Initiative Office, to be PCAST’s executive director. He framed both actions as aimed at the incoming administration’s desire to “unleash scientific breakthroughs, ensure America’s technological dominance, and usher in a Golden Age of American Innovation!” PCAST “will assemble America's most distinguished minds in science and technology to advise our Administration on critical issues like Artificial Intelligence,” Trump said. He previously announced that incoming White House AI and "cryptocurrency czar" David Sacks will chair PCAST. Trump said he’s forming a separate Presidential Council of Advisers for Digital Assets, with Republican former North Carolina congressional candidate Bo Hines as its executive director. The advisory group, which Sacks will chair, aims to “foster innovation and growth in the digital assets space, while ensuring industry leaders have the resources they need to succeed,” Trump said: “Together, they will create an environment where this industry can flourish, and remain a cornerstone of our Nation's technological advancement.”

AT&T said Monday the FCC approved its proposal to to initially stop new sales and then discontinue residential local service in nine Oklahoma wire centers. The proposal was deemed granted Saturday after the agency didn’t take further action. The Communications Workers of America slammed the development.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) reappoints Public Utilities Commission Chair Eric Blank to a second four-year term, effective Jan.12 … Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission announces state Bureau of Audits’ Kelly Monaghan as deputy executive director … Ballard Partners hires Patrick Kilcur, ex-Motion Picture Association, as executive vice president-U.S. government affairs.

The idea of subjecting streaming services to regulation intended for traditional media services lacks a legal, policy or technological basis, Warner Bros. Discovery executives told FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, according to a docket 24-119 filing posted Friday. In addition, WBD said fracturing of audiences and programming outlets makes it difficult for viewers to find their favorite content, which leads them to purchase additional services. That fracturing also reduces providers' ability to generate subscription and advertising revenue to support high-quality content, it added.

The FCC will close Dec. 24 as part of the President Joe Biden executive order issued Thursday giving the day off to most federal employees, in addition to the Dec. 25 federal holiday.

Saying China-affiliated parties have compromised telecom networks, stolen customer call record data and accessed private communications of senior U.S. officials, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) on Wednesday issued mobile communications best practices guidance that it said mirrors advice it's giving federal agencies and Congress. "There is no single solution," but the guidance's content will enhance security, Jeff Greene, executive assistant director-cybersecurity, DHS' CISA, told press members.

Private attorney Angela Floyd, ex-SBA Communications, joins Wilkinson Barker as partner, including for telecom ... Cybersecurity company Check Point Software appoints Nadav Zafrir, ex-Team8, as CEO, succeeding Gil Shwed, transitioning to executive chairman ... Mitchell Silberberg promotes Lindsay Edelstein to partner-intellectual property practice ... Arelion appoints Gagun Gahir, ex-Telstra, as enterprise sales director-Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

National Association of Attorneys General elects New Hampshire AG John Formella (R) as president, Connecticut AG William Tong (D) as president-elect and South Dakota AG Marty Jackley (R) as vice president … Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband Coalition’s executive director John Windhausen retiring (see 2412130048).

Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband Coalition Executive Director John Windhausen is retiring, saying that "at 66 years old, I believe it is the right time for me to begin winding down professionally." SHLB said it formed a hiring committee and expects it will have Windhausen's replacement by March 3. "John has been the heart and soul of the SHLB Coalition for the past 15 years,” said outgoing board chair Cindy Aden, program chair of the University of Washington's iSchool. “His vision and tireless advocacy have been instrumental in closing the digital divide and ensuring broadband access for schools, libraries, and healthcare providers." A SHLB spokesperson said Windhausen's retirement is effective "around the first week of April."

CTIA President-CEO Meredith Baker to retire in 2025 at the end of her contract, continuing to lead the organization "in the interim to ensure a smooth transition" (see 2412120055) ... NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson says he's resigning Jan. 20 (see 2412120066) ... Spence Purnell, ex-Reason Foundation, joins R Street Institute as senior fellow-technology and innovation ... Wiley announces promotions, including Lyn Brown to partner, telecom, media and tech, and Frank Scaduto to of counsel, litigation, including telecom, effective Jan. 1 ... Qualcomm promotes Baaziz Achour to chief technology officer, succeeding James Thompson, retiring, effective Feb. 3 ... Paramount Global extends Dorothea Lea’s contract through 2028 as executive vice president-global public policy and government relations ... Ciena appoints board member Lawton Fitt as independent chair-board; Patrick Nettles steps down as executive chair.