With more than 16 years of legal experience in the telecommunications regulatory field, Melissa Slawson is the General Counsel and Vice President of Government Affairs and Education at leading enterprise-level telecommunications company GeoLinks. Since 2017, she has been GeoLinks’ general counsel, overseeing all legal and regulatory matters. As part of her role, she tracks policies and legislation that may affect GeoLinks’ business and advocates before various regulatory bodies such as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and currently serves as a board member for the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition and chairs the Rural Expansion Working Group for the Wireless Internet Service Provider Association (WISPA).

Slawson began her career working for the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) where she held positions both at the staff level in the Communications Division working on broadband mapping and video franchise matters and at the executive level serving as telecommunications and legal advisor for Commissioner Catherine Sandoval. She then held an Associate position at Davis Wright Tremaine, LLP specializing in legal policy work for the wireless, broadband, and cable industries before the CPUC and other state and federal regulatory agencies. Prior to joining GeoLinks, she worked as General Counsel to a wireless reseller offering subsidized wireless service to low-income consumers under the Lifeline program.

Slawson earned a J.D. from California Western School of Law in 2007 and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Arizona in 2002 (Magna Cum Laude). She is most proud of helping GeoLinks drive forward its mission of closing the digital divide by connecting unconnected communities across the United States, as well as playing a pivotal role in the company securing winning bids in the Connect America Fund and Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. In her leisure time, Melissa performs improv, enjoys cooking, exercise, watching television, and spending time with her husband and dog Logan.