Media Ownership Workshop - Leanza Bio

Media Ownership Workshop - Public Interest Group Panel, 11/3/09

Cheryl A. Leanza, United Church of Christ

Cheryl A. Leanza is the President of her consulting firm, A Learned Hand, LLC, www.alearnedhand.com. In this capacity, she serves as the Policy Director for the United Church of Christ, Office of Communication, Inc. -- the church's historic media advocacy arm. Ms. Leanza's prior positions include a stint as Principal Legislative Counsel for telecommunications at the National League of Cities where she was lead lobbyist for local elected officials during the period when Congress was debating changes to local cable television franchising laws. She also spent six and one-half years as Deputy Director of Media Access Project. At MAP, Ms. Leanza developed her reputation as a leader in public interest advocacy, advocating for diversity in ownership, and other policies furthering First Amendment principles. She has taken leadership roles in the area of media ownership, low power radio and cable Internet open access, and children's television. She represents non-profits before the Federal Communications Commission and in the U.S. Appellate courts, and has been widely quoted in the trade and mainstream press on these issues. Ms. Leanza is an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University, Dept. of Communications, Culture and Technology and is Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of the Media & Democracy Coalition.

A cum laude graduate of the University of Michigan Law School and the Ford School of Public Policy, Ms. Leanza has served on the Executive Committee and the Foundation Board of the Federal Communications Bar Association. She is admitted in the District of Columbia and New York; and in the United States Supreme Court; U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, Third, Fourth, and Ninth Circuits.