Justin Faulb
Chief of Staff and Legal Advisor for Wireline and National Security
Previously, Mr. Faulb served as Associate Bureau Chief of the Wireline Competition Bureau, overseeing implementation of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act and other national security, privacy, numbering, and pricing issues. At the FCC, he has also served as Legal Advisor to the Chief of the Wireline Competition Bureau, as the Designated Federal Officer of the Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee, as an Attorney Advisor, and as Special Counsel in the Office of the FCC Chairman. Prior to the FCC he worked for a leading trade association and in private practice focusing on communications and energy law. Mr. Faulb received his law degree from Catholic University, Columbus School of Law, and his bachelor’s degree, cum laude, from Miami University.
Flynn Rico-Johnson
Policy Advisor, Wireless, Space, and International
Mr. Rico-Johnson most recently served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Congresswoman Doris Matsui, the lead Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. During his time in the Congresswoman’s office, Mr. Rico-Johnson managed introduction and passage of the CHIPS for America Act which resulted in a $52 billion investment in American semiconductor research, development, manufacturing, and workforce development. Previously, he worked at the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) and the Office of Senator Amy Klobuchar. He received his master’s degree and BA from the University of Minnesota.
Hannah Lepow
Legal Advisor for Media and Consumer Protection
Ms. Lepow was most recently an associate at Covington & Burling LLP, where she practiced in the Communications & Media and Data Privacy & Cybersecurity groups. At Covington, her practice spanned regulatory and transactional areas, with a focus on media and consumer privacy issues. She was named a 2022 Rising Star in Telecommunications by Law360. Ms. Lepow received her law degree from Columbia Law School, where she was a Harlan Fiske Stone scholar, and her undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from Columbia University.
Kiara Ortiz
Legal Advisor
Ms. Ortiz most recently served as Legal Advisor to the Bureau Chief of the Wireline Competition Bureau, focusing on universal service and affordability programs, digital discrimination, and competition policy. Previously, she served as an attorney advisor in the Bureau’s Telecommunications Access Policy Division where she led the Commission’s Connected Care Pilot Program and also worked on rural health care. Ms. Ortiz joined the FCC through the Attorney Honors Program. She received her law degree from American University, Washington College of Law and her undergraduate degree from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia.
Rhonda Hill
Staff Assistant
Rhonda Hill is the Staff Assistant for Commissioner Starks’ office. She previously served in the Office of the General Counsel/Administrative Law Division as a Legal Technician for 29 years. Rhonda will now assist with meeting requests, invitations and all related matters for Commissioner Starks Legal Advisors, Justin Faulb, Shiva Goel, and Hannah Lepow. Her email is Rhonda.Hill@fcc.gov and she can be reached on 202-418-2500.