Today, Adrianne Benton Furniss became chair of the Board of Directors of the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, succeeding Austin L. Hirsch.  

“With broadband’s emergence as the essential enabling tool for every aspect of our lives, I look forward to working with Benton’s Board of Directors and staff to make sure that the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society continues to be a powerful champion for solutions to close the digital divide,” said Furniss. 

After a full career in media creation and distribution, Furniss took the reins of the 34-year-old non-profit after the passing of its founder, Charles Benton, in 2015. During her tenure as executive director, Furniss dedicated the organization to ensuring that the benefits of using robust, affordable broadband service deliver new opportunities and strengthen communities around the nation.

In 2025, Furniss stepped down as executive director to focus on Benton’s community engagement and other education and outreach work in the Institute’s home state of Illinois. She has also advised her successor, Dr. Revati Prasad, on development activities and external communications. 

Austin L. Hirsch is a partner in Reed Smith’s Global Corporate Group. He will remain a trustee and on Benton’s board as counsel. He has served on the Benton board since 2013 and was selected as board chair in 2019 after Leonard J. Schrager stepped down.

“I am delighted to turn the reins over to Adrianne after our partnership shaped the Institute into one of the most impactful broadband advocacy and research organizations in the country. Working with her to steward the family legacy has been one of my great honors,” said Hirsch.

Furniss said, “I am grateful to Austin for his governance leadership over the past seven years and the support he gave me as I refocused Benton’s mission to connect people, empower communities, and inform debates to extend broadband’s impact to people regardless of who they are or where they live.” 

“The Benton Institute is excited to welcome both Adrianne and Austin to their new roles,” said Benton Institute Trustee David Dodson. “We are delighted that Benton and those we serve will continue to benefit from their extraordinary leadership in the field of broadband.”

“Austin Hirsch’s dynamic leadership and focus on the public interest have been instrumental to Benton’s success.  We are incredibly fortunate to continue benefiting from his wisdom as he passes the torch to Adrianne Furniss,” said Benton Institute Board Member Jim Kohlenberger. “Adrianne’s unsurpassed vision, proven leadership, and personal passion around extending broadband’s impact to those who can benefit most will help drive Benton’s continued growth, impact, and success. As broadband becomes increasingly important to the way we do just about everything, Adrianne’s leadership and Benton’s work have become increasingly essential to expanding broadband opportunities for all Americans—because as every new person is connected, we strengthen the very fabric of our nation.”

See The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society's New Board Chair and What Comes Next

The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all people in the U.S. have access to competitive, High-Performance Broadband regardless of where they live or who they are. We believe communication policy - rooted in the values of access, equity, and diversity - has the power to deliver new opportunities and strengthen communities.

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Kevin Taglang
Executive Editor, Communications-related Headlines
Benton Institute
for Broadband & Society
1041 Ridge Rd, Unit 214
Wilmette, IL 60091
847-220-4531
headlines AT benton DOT org

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Broadband Delivers Opportunities and Strengthens Communities