A New Jersey native, Mr. Foosaner began his FCC career as a File Clerk while obtaining his law degree as a night student at the American University School of Law in Washington. After graduation, he held positions in the Office of General Counsel, the Private Radio Bureau and the Office of Engineering and Technology. As Chief of the Private Radio Bureau, Foosaner oversaw proceedings that formed the foundation for today’s commercial wireless industry.
For many years, Foosaner led the FCC’s Attorney Hiring Program, helping to staff the Commission with numerous young, talented attorneys. His enduring legacy in the telecom industry is evident every time a telecom lawyer remarks that, “Bob hired me at the FCC.” He represented the United States at three international conferences, and authorized the communications for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
In 1986, Foosaner joined Jones Day, becoming Chairman of the law firm’s Telecommunication Group. There, he represented wireless start-up FleetCall (later renamed Nextel Communications). Foosaner developed and led FleetCall’s successful efforts to obtain FCC authorizations to compete with cellular incumbents, thereby bringing innovation and competition to the nascent wireless industry.
Foosaner left Jones Day in 1992 to head Nextel’s in-house Government Affairs office, growing a team that supported Nextel’s regulatory. Along with the public safety community, he secured FCC and Congressional approval of spectrum re-allocation to alleviate interference. Beginning in 2004, Foosaner oversaw efforts to secure regulatory approval of Nextel’s merger with Sprint and the integration of each company’s Government Affairs offices into a consolidated regulatory advocate for the merged company.
Mr. Foosaner retired from Sprint Nextel in 2008.