Paul Garnett | Founder and Chief Executive Officer
The Vernonburg Group

A tireless digital equity advocate, Paul Garnett has over 25 years of experience in the domestic and international telecommunications and technology sectors. Paul is Founder and CEO of Vernonburg Group, a consulting firm based in Savannah, Georgia, USA that works with large and small corporate, international organization, and government clients on four continents to close the global broadband gap, with a focus on digital equity programming design and implementation, large scale broadband project feasibilities, public sector and private sector fundraising, broadband mapping and economic modelling, broadband policy and regulation, and market research and risk assessment. Prior to starting Vernonburg Group, Paul spent 12 years at Microsoft where he created and led the Airband Initiative, leveraging a partner-driven approach to extend broadband access to unserved communities in the U.S. and in over 20 emerging markets. This included investing in 25 internet service providers and connectivity hardware and solution providers and running a grant fund focused on early-stage companies.  Prior to launching the Airband Initiative, Paul led Microsoft’s global radio spectrum policy work and started the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance. While at Microsoft, contributed to over thirty wireless technology patents. Prior to Microsoft, Paul worked for CTIA-The Wireless Association, the United States Federal Communications Commission, the law firm Swidler Berlin (now Morgan Lewis), and the management consulting firm Price Waterhouse.  Paul has a Juris Doctor Cum Laude from the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Union College.  Paul is a member of the Bar of the District of Columbia.