1989

Six times in our forty-year history, Benton has invested in defining long-term policy solutions in service to our values of access, equity, and diversity and our goal to ensure that everyone is able to use the communications systems of the day. In 1989, Benton commissions eight papers to address issues that federal policymakers would face in the 1990's, which help shape early public policy strategies for the internet age.

Jerry Berman (Chairman Emeritus, Founder and past President, Center for Democracy and Technology (1994-Present) joins Benton as a Fellow. Jerry focuses on research and policy project development relating to public access to electronic government information. With funding from the Benton and Bauman Foundations, he co-authors Electronic Public Information and the Public’s Right to Know with Hank Perrit, Villanova University.

Donna Lambert, Benton Fellow (1989-1990) analyzes policy in the children’s television area. She coordinates Federal Trade Commission and Federal Communications Commission filings addressing unfair and deceptive advertising practices in programming for young children. With passage of the 1990 Children’s Television Act, she educates public interest groups on the constitutional and legal implications of the legislation. Donna goes on to serve at the Federal Communications Commission as Special Counsel.

Larry Kirkman becomes Executive Director of Benton Foundation (serves until 2001).