Former President
Landmark Communications
“The Bresnan Ethics in Business Award is not only a wonderful honor, but also a very humbling one,” said Anstrom. “I loved and respected Bill so much – and the previous recipients have all been true giants of our industry.”
“Decker’s leadership has helped to shape our industry into the thriving, innovating business it is today,” said Bob Miron, retired chairman and chief executive officer, Bright House Networks, and chairman of the Bresnan Award selection committee. “His commitment to public service and philanthropy is unrivaled, and we are delighted to honor him with the Bresnan Ethics in Business Award.”
Decker Anstrom currently serves on the Board of Directors of Discovery Communications, as well as on the boards of several nonprofit environmental groups including the Island Press, Climate Central, and Planet Forward. He also serves as chairman of the Board for the National Environmental Education Foundation, and the Institute for Educational Leadership.
In 1987 Anstrom joined the National Cable Television Association (NCTA) as executive vice president and became president and CEO in 1994. During his tenure, he led the cable industry’s efforts that helped result in the Telecommunications Act of 1996. In 1999, Anstrom joined The Weather Channel Companies (TWCC) in Atlanta, GA. as president and CEO. In 2002, he became president of Landmark Communications and, in that position, he also served as chairman of TWCC. He retired as president of Landmark Communications and chairman of The Weather Channel Companies in 2008, following Landmark’s sale of The Weather Channel to NBC.
Prior to his positions at Landmark, Anstrom had a long career in public service and in the communications industry. During the Carter administration, he was a senior staff member in the White House Office of Management and Budget, working on the creation of the U.S. Department of Education. He also served in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel and was president of Public Strategies, a Washington-based public policy consulting firm.
Anstrom also served as U.S. Ambassador and Head of the U.S. Delegation to the 2012 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-12), held under the auspices of the International Telecommunication Union. WRC-12 was a treaty conference involving 150 nations that considered international and regional spectrum allocations that support satellite, mobile and other wireless services.
In addition, Anstrom has served on numerous cable industry boards, including NCTA, which he chaired for two years, and Comcast Corporation, where he chaired the Governance Committee. He is a member of the Cable Hall of Fame and has also received numerous industry awards including the Vanguard for Leadership Award.
Anstrom received a bachelor’s degree from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota and attended the Woodrow Wilson Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University.
