Plenary Session

Title: To Be Announced.

Jennifer A. Manner

Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and International Strategy at AST & Science, LLC

The emergence of space-based mobile broadband direct-to-device (D2D) services represents one of the most transformative communications developments of our generation. For the first time, ordinary smartphones can connect directly to satellites, extending broadband coverage to remote communities, disaster zones, and underserved populations worldwide. Yet this technological revolution must coexist with another human endeavor of equal importance: scientific exploration of the universe. This talk explores how AST SpaceMobile is demonstrating that universal connectivity and scientific discovery are not competing objectives. Through collaboration with radio astronomers, optical scientists, the U.S. National Science Foundation, and the broader astronomy community, AST SpaceMobile is working to build a future in which billions of people gain broadband access while astronomers continue to explore the cosmos. The result is a powerful example of innovation, responsibility, and cooperation delivering benefits for citizens, governments, businesses, and scientists alike.

Jennifer A. Manner is a recognized visionary and strategic leader in domestic and international telecommunications, spectrum, and space policy and regulation. She currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and International Strategy at AST & Science, LLC, where she oversees the company's domestic and international regulatory and policy initiatives.

With extensive experience in the industry, Jennifer has held senior roles at prominent technology firms including EchoStar, Skyterra (now Ligado), and MCI WorldCom (now Verizon). Her government service includes key positions such as Senior Advisor for Space and Satellite Policy at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and senior roles at the Federal Communications Commission-including Deputy Chief of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, Deputy Chief of the Office of Engineering and Technology, and Senior Counsel to Commissioner Abernathy. Jennifer holds leadership positions in trade associations as well as in international organizations such as CITEL and the International Telecommunications Union.

Jennifer's expertise spans domestic and international telecommunications, market access, and spectrum policy. She has a track record of resolving complex regulatory and policy challenges and has been instrumental in fostering regulatory frameworks to enable the adoption of next-generation wireless terrestrial and space-based technologies, including non-geostationary satellite systems and non-terrestrial networks.

n addition to her industry and government leadership, Jennifer actively participates in trade associations, international organizations, and government advisory bodies. She is a prolific author of books and articles on telecommunications, including her recent book Spectrum Wars: The New Hope for Connectivity (Artech House 2025). She is also a filmmaker; her latest documentary, When Wire Was King: The Transformation of Telecommunications, is available on PBS and multiple streaming platforms including YouTube, Amazon Prime and Apple TV.

Title: To Be Announced.

David DeBoer

Member of the research staff at the University of California at Berkeley and Oxford University, UK

As a shared resource, the electromagnetic spectrum is the new societal commons. The use cases are incredibly diverse. Thought, development, trust and empathy are required to successfully share this resource as efficiently as practicable. We rely heavily on its availability for the vast majority of our daily activities. The scientific use of the spectrum is vital to understand our Universe, as well as to characterize our changing environment and weather. This presentation will discuss some of the myriad uses and concerns of this important resource.

David DeBoer is a member of the research staff at the University of California at Berkeley and Oxford University, UK. Prior to these positions, he was the Assistant Director of CSIRO's Australia Telescope National Facility. Dr. DeBoer graduated from Harvard University with a Bachelor's degree in Astronomy and Astrophysics and from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Dr. DeBoer was an Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Georgia Tech then the Project Engineer/Project Manager for the Allen Telescope Array project before joining CSIRO in Australia.