BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF DR. GEORGE F. MANSUR, JR. Dr. George F. Mansur, Jr. was born in Hardin, Missouri, April 23, 1928. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1949 and the Master of Science degree in 1956, both in electrical engineering from the University of Missouri. He received his Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Iowa State University in 1963. Following his graduation in 1949, he joined Emerson Electric Company of St. Louis, Missouri, and subsequently in 1952, the Signal Corps Engineering Laboratories as a member of the Armed Services. During this period he contributed to the design and test of radar fire control systems. He joined Collins Radio Company in 1953 where his initial responsibilities included design of equipment for surface-to-air missiles. In 1957 he became Project Engineer for the AN/SRN-4 radiometric sextant for the Polaris Program and subsequently Technical Director for the Navy's tactical data link (NTDS) and high Capacity Communication System. In 1964 he directed Collins activities in the successful competition for the Apollo Manned Space Flight Network for NASA, and served as Program Manager until completion of this program. During this period he was promoted to Director of Space Systems Division and in 1969 was appointed Director of Microwave and Space Systems when the two organizations were merged. As Director of the Microwave and Space Systems he was responsible for the total operating budget of the division whose sales were $30-$40 million annually. The division employed 240 salaried personnel plus appropriate draftsmen and technicians from supporting service organizations. Projects ranged in size from $1,000 to $50 million and encompassed both government and commercial activities. In 1969 he was given NASA's Public Service Award "for his outstanding contributions as a key leader of the government-industry team which made possible the exceptional success of the Apollo program." He holds several classified patents and is the author of a number of papers and addresses. He is married to the former Mary Lu Jones. They have two children. STATEMENT OF DR. GEORGE FRANK MANSUR, JR. Dr. MANSUR. There is nothing I want to add to the biographical sketch. I do have a prepared statement I would like to have placed in the record. Senator PASTORE. Is there anything my colleague wants to say before he reads the statement? Mr. BAKER. Nothing at all. Dr. Mansur, Senator Pastore is preeminent in the field and has been very cooperative in trying to formulate the best policy now and in the previous administration. As he pointed out he is also chairman of the Independent Office Subcommittee which I believe will have jurisdiction over your mundane matter and concern, as a matter of fact, for the disparity between the funding level this year and the $3 million that I understand the agency has requested. I would join with the chairman hoping we have not only the cooperation of the Commerce Committee but also full funding. Senator PASTORE. In this regard, the predecessor of Dr. Whitehead didn't sit down with the President from the time he was sworn in and yet he was supposed to be the one directly responsible to the President. I think it was this situation that disenchanted the Congress as well. I think if you people come up with an affirmative program with recommendations that are good and begin to dramatize what you are trying to do because you have to do, I don't think you will have the same reluctance on the part of the Congress to appropriate the money. The trouble has been what good would it do to appropriate the money, you people never settle anything or do anything and the prob lems existed and the Congress didn't appropriate the money. I think in the future, I think myself if you people come up with a dramatic program, one that makes sense in a very effective way, I think we will have better luck in the House. The trouble has never been in the Senate because I happen to be involved in this both ways. But that isn't quite true in the House. What they do is look at the record and see nothing effectively being done and naturally they become disenchanted. Now, I have a letter here from Senators Tower and Symington in high praise of the nominee and I ask that they be inserted in the record here and we also have your financial statement which has been scrutinized and that will be made part of the committee's record. (The letters follow:) Hon. WARREN G. MAGNUSON, Chairman, Committee on Commerce, U.S. SENATE, September 29, 1970. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: I regret that business in Texas prevents me from appearing before your committee on behalf of Dr. George F. Mansur, nominee for the post of Deputy Director of the Office of Telecommunications Policy. Dr. Mansur has a rare blend of academic preparation and business experience which will enable him to serve his country well in this post. He possesses Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Missouri as well as a Ph. D. in the same subject from Iowa State. He became a Texan in 1953 when he joined a Texas corporation. In the course of his service there he supervised technical programs involving over two hundred individuals and ranging in value from 1,000 to 50 million dollars. I feel confident that he will provide valuable assistance to the Office of Telecommunications Policy. Consequently, I respectfully urge the Committee to act favorably upon Dr. Mansur's nomination as soon as its schedule and work load permit. Sincerely yours, JOHN G. TOWER. U.S. SENATE, Hon. JOHN O. PASTORE, Washington, D.C., September 30, 1970. Chairman, Commerce Subcommittee on Communications, DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: We have only recently learned that Dr. George F. Mansur, Jr., whom the President has nominated to be Deputy Director of the Office of Telecommunications Policy, is a native of Missouri and will appear before your subcommittee this morning. Dr. Mansur was born in Hardin, Missouri and is a graduate of our State University. He has worked for an outstanding company in St. Louis, Emerson Electric. I note that he has had a successful career with Collins Radio Company and has won high honors in public service from NASA for his outstanding contributions as a key leader of the government-industry team which made possible the exceptional success of the Apollo program. Although I do not know Dr. Mansur personally, his record and reputation in our State I am confident is of high order and it is, therefore, a privilege by this letter to join in the courtesies and considerations I know your subcommittee will extend to him. Sincerely, STUART SYMINGTON. Senator PASTORE. All right, you may proceed with your statement. Dr. MANSUR. I would like to insert the following statement in the record, if I may, and very briefly summarize it. Senator PASTORE. Fine. Dr. MANSUR. Certainly I and this committee recognize the importance of telecommunications. I think we will see in the next decade a very rapid expansion in telecommunications, not unlike, I suspect, that which we have seen in the growth of the computer industries in the last 10 years. The growth in telecommunications in some measure will be stimulated by the computer industry itself. I think it is important for telecommunications to grow within a framework of policy which assures it will grow within the national interest and meet the needs of the users. The second part of my prepared statement relates to my financial posture. All of my holdings with the exception of some minor stockholdings are in cash or real estate. There has been an opinion offered by the Department of Justice to the effect that none of my stockholdings should produce conflict of interest. Further, I am not associated with in any way any business or commercial enterprise at this time. Senator PASTORE. Any questions of this nominee? Senator BAKER. I have no questions, Mr. Chairman. (The statement follows:) STATEMENT OF GEORGE F. MANSUR, JR. Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee I am pleased and honored to be appearing before you today. I hope that you will view my nomination as Deputy Director of the Office of Telecommunications Policy favorably and, if so, I will do my best to assist the Director in the duties of his office. I personally believe that telecommunications is on the threshold of a rapid expansion not unlike that which we have observed in the computer industry during the last decade, and stimulated in part by the computer industry itself. The growing requirements for telecommunications, coupled with recurring economic breakthroughs in technology, will result in substantial growth and new service offerings over the next ten years. Congress and this Committee have long recognized the expanding role of communications in our society as is evidenced by its support in establishing the Office of Telecommunications Policy to work in conjunction with the FCC and other departments and agencies. As indicated in my biography, I have had a number of years of experience in telecommunications and electronics in general, and I believe that I can bring to the office a practical knowledge of telecommunications systems and organizations that will be beneficial. With regard to my personal affairs that may have a bearing in this hearing, I have filed with the Chairman of the Committee my financial statement along with a Justice Department opinion to the effect that none of my rather modest stock holdings should result in a conflict of interest. Further, I have no connection in any capacity with any business or commercial organization. In conclusion, let me state that there is much to be done and if confirmed I am looking forward to being a part of this growing telecommunications community. (The information requested by Senator Pastore follows:) EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, Hon. JOHN O. PASTORE, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR PASTORE: On the occasion of Dr. George F. Mansur's confirmation hearing you requested an outline of the manner in which the Office of Telecommunications Policy intends to implement Executive Order No. 11556 and what areas we intend to cover. I am pleased to comply with that request and to tell you something of our progress to date. The Office will be concerned with a wide range of issues reflecting the broad impact of telecommunications in government, the economy, and our society. The growing recognition that telecommunications policy matters facing the government are so broad, as well as being so complex, was one of the major factors behind the wide support for the establishment of this Office. We will, of course, be concerned with the specific major issues of telecommunications facing the country, but we will also be concerned with the broad sweep of telecommunications policy, reflecting your concern about the need for the development of an overall national communications policy. The responsibilities of this Office fall into two major categories: (1) the Federal Government's own use of telecommunications, and (2) national communications policy. Additionally, reflecting our location in the Executive Office of the President, the Director of the Office is designated as the President's principal advisor on telecommunications. We will be concerned with all aspects of the Federal Government's own use of communications. Major policy, planning, and operational areas that can be identified immediately are: coordination of telecommunications preparedness activities; techniques and organizational arrangements for management and procurement of federal communications resources; allocation of spectrum resources to federal users; criteria and standards for interoperability and efficiencies in federal communications systems; identification of specific telecommunications program economies; and interface with civilian communications systems. Our responsibility in this area of government telecommunications is twofold. We have first of all a responsibility to the public through the President to see that the Federal Government's overall use of telecommunications is both efficient and effective. In addition, we have a responsibility to the federal departments and agencies who are users of telecommunications to see that a policy and management environment exists in which they can obtain and operate the communications they need to perform their missions. It is a considerable management challenge to find ways to further both these goals simultaneously. In implementing these responsibilities for the Federal Government's use of telecommunications, we will work with and through the user agencies rather than attempting to take over or duplicate their functions. We will address general management issues or will deal with specific program issues as appropriate, putting great stress on a close working relationship with the agencies to identify their needs and problems. The practical authority to implement the kinds of decisions this Office is expected to make will be exercised in three major ways: first, review and make recommendations to the Office of Management and Budget on federal agency plans and budgets for telecommunications; second, assign radio spectrum to federal users, and third, establish telecommunications standards and criteria. In the area of national telecommunications policy, our scope will be similarly broad, although our role will be different. Here, the executive branch is a partner in the public policy dialogue and decision process with the FCC, the Congress, and the public. This Office will be the principal spokesman for the executive branch on communications policy matters. The areas we will cover under this responsibility will vary as the issues facing the nation vary. At the present time, there appear to be several major areas where the executive can have an effective role in policy formulation. These include: (1) the provision of specialized bulk communications, particularly data communications, and the role of competition and monopoly in these new services; (2) international communications including INTELSAT, U.S. industry structure, international negotiations regarding frequency usage, and the mix of cables and satellites in high density overseas routes; (3) mobile communications; (4) the general problem of mass telecommunications media, including industry structure, access to the media, and cable TV and its relation to over-the-air broadcasting; (5) the associated services that widespread, wide band, wired access to the home make possible; (6) financing of public broadcasting; (7) efficient, effective, and flexible use of the spectrum; and (8) a more general awareness of the impact of communications on our society and our economy. The areas I have discussed illustrate how broad telecommunications policy must be and indicate the importance of a Presidential perspective on telecommunications policy. Because of this breadth and because of the high degree of interrelation among the various issue areas, the President's broader perspective on the economy and the society and his associated responsibilities make it imperative that the executive branch become a more effective and more responsible participant in the discussion of these policy issues. We also feel that this role is connected in many ways to the Federal Government's own use of communications, and that there will be great benefits from looking into both areas simultaneously. In short, OTP will permit the President to fulfill his responsibility in communications policy, just as he does other important areas of public policy. As you can appreciate, our Office is quite new, and the above description of areas of involvement and expected implementation is still somewhat less specific than we would like in the future. However, I am pleased to report that the Office is, in fact, established and at work. There are, of course, problems of establishing ourselves organizationally, establishing relations with the other departments of government, and dealing with specific policy projects. As you know, we also have some budgeting difficulties which are, in turn, causing delays in staffing and in addressing of specific policy needs. We are attempting to deal simultaneously with all these problems. We are placing great emphasis on developing work relationships with the appropriate departments and agencies of government, with knowledgeable people in industry, and with concerned members of the public. As you know, the role of this Office is one of coordination, not operation. While the Office has considerable decision making authority, all our efforts would be counter-productive if we did not work with and through the federal departments and agencies. We are putting particular emphasis on a cooperative and complementary relationship with the Federal Communications Commission, and that experience has been most satisfactory to date. We and the FCC will be concerned with many of the same areas, and we expect that the policy and Presidential perspective of OTP will complement rather than duplicate or compete with the regulatory focus of the Commission. We have put particular emphasis also on developing the role of the Secretary of Commerce in support of this Office as assigned by the Executive Order. We are making quite satisfactory progress in spite of some stringent budgetary constraint. The Department of Commerce has been most cooperative in recognizing their role in support of the Office of Telecommunications Policy, and I am confident that arrangement will work out well. In particular, we have agreed with the Department of Commerce on certain principles regarding their research work program in support of this Office, and I have attached those for your information. I am pleased to have this opportuntity to be somewhat more specific about the Office's plans and to give you a very preliminary progress report after our first two months of operation. I intend to keep the Congress well informed of our progress and plans and look forward to working with you in that regard. I hope that my future reports will be increasingly more specific and will show substantial progress in dealing with the issues before us. In particular, I hope that my future reports will be increasingly more specific and will show substantial progress in dealing with the issues before us. In particular, I hope to have within the next six months a statement of what the de facto policies of the government are in the communications area; how they relate to pending and foreseeable issues; and what needs to be done to close the gaps to bring about some cohesion in overall policy. As soon as this review is completed, I would hope to have the opportunity t discus it with interested members of the Congress. In the meantime, if we can be of any assistance, please let me know. Sincerely, Enclosure. CLAY T. WHITEHEAD. COORDINATION ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN OTP AND DOC 1. The Director, OTP, should approve the work statements for all major contract studies executived in support of OTP responsibilities. 2. The Director, OTP, should be provided at least 15 days in advance of any public release, the results of all studies undertaken by DOC in support of OTP responsibilities. 3. Requests from the Director, OTP, for information or analyses will receive priority over other tasks undertaken by DOC in the spectrum management area. 4. The Director, OTP, shall keep the Secretary of Commerce fully informed on current and planned programs and activities, and the Secretary shall afford the Director the opportunity to review in advance DOC submissions to OMB and the Congress that are to be undertaken in support of OTP. 5. There should be free and frequent informal contact between the staff of OTP and the staff of DOC in the telecommunications area, except that any changes in the scope and activities of either office shall be coordinated only by the Director of OTP and an appropriate official of the Department. 6. The Director, OTP, and the senior DOC official in the telecommunications areas should meet frequently and periodically to assure that the programs and activities of the two offices are in accord. Senator PASTORE. Is there anyone in this room who desires to speak for or against this nominee? There being silence the meeting is adjourned. (Whereupon, at 9:40 a.m., the committee was adjourned.) |