Kyle Malady Appointed CTIA Chairman, Replacing Laurent "LT" Therivel of UScellular.

Kyle Malady, Executive Vice President and CEO of Verizon Business, has been appointed as CTIA's Chairman, replacing outgoing Chairman Laurent Therivel of UScellular. Malady has extensive experience in deploying and managing telecommunications networks and will lead CTIA's priorities of advancing innovation, security, and connectivity.

July 02, 2025

Kyle Malady, Executive Vice President and CEO of Verizon Business, has been appointed as the Chairman of the CTIA (The Wireless Industry Association), succeeding outgoing Chairman Laurent "LT" Therivel of UScellular. This appointment is significant as it comes at a critical juncture for the wireless industry, marked by rapid technological advancements and evolving cybersecurity challenges.

Malady, who previously served as CTIA Vice Chairman, brings nearly four decades of experience in deploying and managing world-class telecommunications networks. His appointment was praised by Ajit Pai, President and CEO of CTIA, who described Malady as an accomplished and respected leader in the industry. Pai noted that Malady's unique expertise in both technology and business makes him an excellent choice to guide CTIA's priorities of advancing innovation, security, and connectivity.

Malady expressed his honor in assuming the role of CTIA Chairman, emphasizing the importance of CTIA's mission in advancing America's wireless infrastructure and enabling new technologies. He looks forward to collaborating with Ajit and the CTIA team to maintain the nation's global wireless leadership and better serve American consumers and businesses.

In separate news, a federal appeals court recently upheld the FCC's data breach reporting requirements for telecommunications companies targeted in cyberattacks. The ruling, delivered by the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, rejected consolidated challenges from trade groups including the Ohio Telecom Association, Texas Association of Business, and USTelecom. The court found that the Communications Act of 1934's prohibition on "unjust or unreasonable" practices provided adequate authority for the breach notification requirements.

The FCC's 2024 rule, authorized during the Biden administration, requires providers to notify the FCC of data breaches involving 500 or more customers' personal data within seven business days. This represents a significant expansion from previous requirements that were limited to call records and billing data. The new rule now covers personally identifiable information, including Social Security numbers, email addresses, and biometric data.

The FCC has repeatedly imposed penalties and reached settlements with targeted mobile carriers, including AT&T Inc., Verizon Communications Inc., and T-Mobile US Inc. The rule's opponents argued that Congress had rejected a similar rule in 2017 and that key sections of the law didn't provide sufficient authority for regulating PII. The court, however, found that carriers' failure to notify customers and authorities about data breaches constituted practices "in connection with" communication services, rejecting industry and dissenting arguments.

References:
[1] https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ctia-announces-verizons-kyle-malady-as-chairman-302529683.html
[2] https://news.bloomberglaw.com/ip-law/appeals-court-upholds-fcc-data-breach-rules-for-hacked-telecoms