Public Policy Consulting
Biographical Notes for Ron Binz
 

Ron Binz is President of Public Policy Consulting, specializing in policy and regulatory issues in the telecommunications and energy industries.  His clients include consumer groups, state agencies, telecommunications carriers and business associations. 

Ron was also until 2003 President of the Competition Policy Institute (CPI), based in Washington, D.C.   CPI was a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing competition to telecommunications and energy markets in ways that benefit consumers. Ron described CPI as "a combination consumer organization and think tank." He is also a frequent speaker and expert witness on competition and consumer issues.

For eleven years, until 1995, Ron directed the Colorado Office of Consumer Counsel, the state's utility consumer advocate. His office represented residential, small business and agricultural utility consumers before the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, federal regulatory agencies and the courts.

Ron was previously President of the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA) and chaired the group’s Telecommunications Committee. On behalf of NASUCA and CPI he has testified before Congressional committees fifteen times.

Ron served as the Co-Chair of the North American Numbering Council which advises the Federal Communications Commission on telephone numbering policies.  Ron is a member of the Harvard Electricity Policy Group and also served on the Network Reliability Council to the FCC. He is a director of several non-profit organizations.

Ron received a B.A. in Philosophy from St. Louis University in 1971 and an M.A. in Mathematics from the University of Colorado in 1977. He also completed course work for a Masters Degree in Economics from the University of Colorado.

In addition to his other professional interests, Ron is an owner of a winery in Loveland, Colorado.

Trail Ridge Winery specializes in Merlot, Riesling, Cabernet Franc and Gewurztraminer wines. In that capacity, Ron previously served as the Chairman of the Colorado Wine Industry Development Board and is currently a member of the Board of Directors of WineAmerica, the national trade association of American wineries.