The Wireless History Foundation (WHF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization formed to preserve and promote the history of the wireless industry. Wireless products and services are continually and dramatically changing the way people worldwide live, work and play. The Foundation was formed by wireless pioneers to preserve the lessons of wireless for the benefit of future entrepreneurs and innovators.
With the assistance of partner organizations and sponsors, WHF was launched on October 13, 2008, the anniversary of the official commercialization of cellular technology in the United States. The kick-off event was held exactly 25 years after the first cellular system opened for business in Chicago. The festivities attracted wireless pioneers and industry luminaries from the past five decades.
WHF chronicles the achievements of individuals, the contributions of numerous organizations, and the evolution of markets and technology, all of which fueled the growth of wireless communications and continue to add convenience, productivity, and enrichment to everyday life.
WHF Board of Directors
Bryan Darr – Mr. Darr is the Vice-President of Government Affairs at Ookla, spearheading the company’s programs for federal, state and local governments. He also leads Ookla’s advocacy efforts with lawmakers and policy organizations, promoting the value of crowdsourced intelligence to help with better data-driven decisioning. Mr. Darr has spent most of his professional life in the wireless industry, beginning his career in cellular as a sales representative for Cellular One of Memphis in 1985. After discovering his customers were having difficulty traveling with their phones, he founded Mosaik in 1988 and began developing consumer roaming guides. In June 2018, Mosaik was acquired by Ookla. Mr. Darr has served on many industry committees during his career and currently serves on CTIA’s Smart Cities Steering Committee.
Ari Fitzgerald – Mr. Fitzgerald leads the Communications, Internet, and Media practice at the law firm, Hogan Lovells. He provides strategic, legal, and policy advice on a wide range of communications and spectrum policy issues to some of the world’s largest and most dynamic communications network operators and equipment manufacturers, as well as industry trade associations and investors. Before entering private law practice, Ari served as legal advisor to former FCC Chairman, William Kennard. In addition to the Wireless Hall of Fame, Ari serves on the board of directors of Crown Castle, as president of the Ellington Fund and as secretary of the Multicultural Media and Telecommunications Council. Mr. Fitzgerald was inducted into the Wireless Hall of Fame in 2021.
Arlene Harris – Ms. Harris is President and Co-Founder of DYNA LLC She has over four decades of experience as an entrepreneur, board member, and investor in successful wireless-related businesses. She has received numerous awards and recognition, including being named the first female inductee into the Wireless Hall of Fame. Ms. Harris was inducted into the Wireless Hall of Fame in 2007.
Liz Maxfield – Ms. Maxfield served as Executive Director of the Foundation from 2010 to 2017. She previously served as CTIA Senior Vice President from 1984 to 1998. She founded CIBERNET, CTIA’s subsidiary for financial settlements, and served as its first President. Prior to CTIA, she worked as an attorney for the FCC and in private practice with a communications law firm. She has served as an advisor to the University of Texas Austin Technology Incubator, and as an advisory board member of the University of Oklahoma Wireless EMC Center. Ms. Maxfield was inducted into the Wireless Hall of Fame in 2018.
Rob Mechaley – Mr. Mechaley is an industry pioneer and veteran telecommunications/wireless technologist, inventor and entrepreneur. His involvement in wireless began when he earned his first amateur radio license at age 11. An early member of the McCaw Cellular executive team, Mr. Mechaley founded Radioframe Networks, and co-founded Clearwire and Mobilesphere. He has more than 60 patents or patents pending. Mr. Mechaley is being inducted into the Wireless Hall of Fame in 2023.
Larry Movshin – Mr. Movshin has more than 40 years of experience representing the communications interests of system licensees, major equipment manufacturers, trade associations and private users. He has held several leadership roles in the Federal Communications Bar Association, as well as the FCBA’s charitable and educational foundation. He has been recognized by his peers through top ratings in Best Lawyers in America and Washington DC Super Lawyers. He was inducted into the Wireless Hall of Fame in 2015.
WHF Staff
Jenifer Snyder – Ms. Snyder has been involved with the WHF since 2010 and serves as the Executive Director. Ms. Snyder is also co-founder and general counsel at Fluid Market, Inc., a peer-to-peer community sharing app. She is also the founder and executive director of the mGive Foundation, a public charity dedicated to expanding and innovating the mobile channel for social good and a pioneer of charitable donations via text message. She was also founder and General Counsel of Mobile Accord, Inc., a pioneer in mobile products and services, and 9 Squared, Inc. a mobile content company subsequently acquired by the Zed Group.
Linda Lievens – Ms. Lievens serves as Program Coordinator for the Wireless History Foundation and has been with the WHF since 2010. In the early 1990s, she was program manager of the Entrepreneur of the Year program for the Austin office of Ernst & Young, headed up Austin’s E&Y Olympic Job Opportunities Program, and represented Ernst & Young with the Austin Chamber of Commerce. She received her education at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. Ms. Lievens also has extensive volunteer experience with civic and educational organizations.