Former Fcc Official To Head State Telecommunications & Energy Bureau

Attorney General Spitzer today announced the appointment of Susanna M. Zwerling, a former top lawyer at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), to head the Telecommunications and Energy Bureau of the State Department of Law.

"Susanna Zwerling brings an outstanding combination of expertise and background to the Telecommunications & Energy Bureau," said Spitzer. "She has been on the leading edge of broadcast and telecommunications issues and will bring to New York an aggressive approach to protecting New York State’s consumers."

At the FCC, Zwerling worked in the Mass Media Bureau where she directed projects relating to digital broadcast and children’s television. After several promotions, she rose to be legal advisor to FCC Commissioner Michael J. Copps focusing on broadcast and cable matters.

Prior to joining the Commission, Zwerling served in the Telecommunications Task Force of the Anti-Trust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, as an associate with the law firm of Debevoise & Plimpton, and as a law clerk to Hon. Sterling Johnson, Jr. in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. She is a graduate of New York University School of Law and Wesleyan University.

In other personnel moves, Spitzer also announced the appointment of Terryl Brown as Deputy Attorney General in charge of the Public Advocacy Division, Gary Connor as Assistant Deputy Attorney General, and Mary Ellen Burns as Special Counsel.

Brown heads a division composed of nine bureaus: antitrust; charities; civil rights; consumer frauds and protection; environmental protection; health care; internet; investment protection; and telecommunications & energy.

Prior to her appointment, Brown served as the Assistant Deputy Attorney General, and previously served as the Deputy Bureau Chief of the Civil Rights Bureau, and an Assistant Attorney General in the Litigation Bureau. Brown received her law degree from the University of Pittsburgh, and a bachelors degree from Pace University.

Brown replaces Dietrich Snell, who is currently on a one-year leave of absence from the Department of Law to serve as Senior Counsel at the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States.

Mr. Connor most recently served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Investment Protection Bureau, and prior to that as Chief of Enforcement and Litigation in the Real Estate Financing Bureau. Prior to joining the Attorney General’s Office in 1984, Connor served in a variety of capacities for the Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation "A." He received both his law and undergraduate degrees from Boston College.