Sharon Black is an international telecommunications attorney and consultant with 30 years of industry experience. She was the first person in the U.S. to earn an M.S. in telecommunications, graduating in 1972 from the University of Colorado's Interdisciplinary Telecommunications Program in the Department of Electrical Engineering. She holds an undergraduate degree in international economics from the University of Colorado and a law degree from the University of Denver. Black has served as a telecommunications policy analyst for the U.S. Department of Commerce and an analyst, network designer, manager, and vice president of telecommunications in the financial services industry. For her accomplishments, she has been honored by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Telecommunications (now NTIA), and various national industry organizations. She is the author of numerous telecommunications and law articles and has taught telecommunications courses for Telecommunications Research Associates and the University of Colorado.