Debra Berlyn

Contributor

Debra Berlyn is President of Consumer Policy Solutions, a firm centered on developing public policies addressing the interests of consumers and the marketplace.<br /> With over 18 years of consumer advocacy experience, she is a seasoned veteran of handling in-depth, policy issues. She is experienced in communicating complex language and issues into easily understandable, applicable messages for consumers.<br /> Ms. Berlyn currently serves as the chairperson for the Federal Communications Commission Consumer Advisory Committee. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the National Consumers League.<br /> Most recently Ms. Berlyn has been working on online safety and privacy issues to increase consumer awareness about how consumers can protect themselves and their information online. Ms. Berlyn has been labeled a national voice on the issue of online safety and is a regular guest on radio talk shows. As an online safety expert, she writes on the importance of keeping consumers safe online and has been published in the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, Boston Herald, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Tampa Tribune, Daytona Beach News-Journal and the New Jersey Herald News.<br /> Prior to launching Consumer Policy Solutions, Ms. Berlyn was senior legislative representative in the Federal Affairs Department of AARP, responsible for all communications and energy matters. She advocated on behalf of the members of AARP before Congress, the federal agencies (FCC, FERC, FEC, Department of Energy, Department of Commerce), and the Administration. Although Ms. Berlyn is no longer with AARP on a full-time basis, she retains responsibilities on a consulting basis, working primarily on the digital television transition issue. Consumer Policy Solutions’ other clients include consumer organizations and industry.<br /> Prior to her position at AARP, Ms. Berlyn was president of Consumer Policy Consulting, a firm supporting the implementation of pro-consumer telecommunications and energy policies. Ms. Berlyn was co-founder and executive director of the Competition Policy Institute, a non-profit organization, from 1996 to 2002. Immediately prior to creating CPI, Ms. Berlyn served as the executive director of the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA). Before her time with NASUCA, Ms. Berlyn worked for several public interest organizations, developing grassroots lobbying programs and campaigns.<br /> Ms. Berlyn has served as a faculty instructor with Boston University’s Washington Program. She received a B.A. from American University and a M.A. from Northwestern University. Ms. Berlyn is the mother of two and truly understands the importance of technology and family safety.