Computer Science Professor Named Technical Director of Program Set to Play Major Role in Advancing 6G
Eric Burger, Ph.D., MBA and professor in the Department of Computer Science, will serve as technical director for the new Technical Program Office (TPO) at the Virginia Tech Applied Research Corporation (VT-ARC) for the ATIS initiative Next G Alliance. In this role, Burger will help manage and synchronize the Next G Alliance working group deliverables and engage the broader academic research community in the initiative’s primary goal of establishing North American leadership in 6G.
“Among its many goals, including the advancement of North American leadership in 6G, when successful, this work will contribute to making wireless access more power-efficient, lower cost and available in places where internet access is not currently available,” says Burger. “Wireless access underpins critical sectors of our economy. As such, the work of the Next G Alliance will deliver broad-ranging value and benefit.”
Working for a Wireless World
Burger’s research interests include cybersecurity, distributed computing, distributed ledger technology, policy and network governance. He formerly served as chief technology officer of the Federal Communications Commission and as assistant director for Telecommunications and Cybersecurity of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) in the White House.
As the technical director of the TPO, Burger will be instrumental in proposing a set of national priorities to inform Federal research funding and incentive actions called the National 6G Roadmap.
Geared toward the eventual commercialization of 6G, the roadmap will address the full lifecycle of research, standardization, development, manufacturing and market readiness with a built-in focus on sustainability and the societal drivers that will shape future wireless technologies.
Burger will lead the TPO’s coordination across the six Next G Alliance working groups developing the National 6G Roadmap, which includes roadmap development, green G, technology, applications, spectrum and societal and economic needs.
“VT-ARC is confident this partnership along with Eric Burger’s leadership as TPO Director will make a positive impact towards advancing 5G’s evolution and shaping 6G development and innovation,” says Virginia Tech Applied Research Corporation president & CEO John Forte. “Further, we believe this relationship and its intended impact will establish North America as an undisputed global leader in wireless communication technologies.”
About ATIS and Next G Alliance
The Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) brings together the top global ICT companies to advance the industry’s business priorities. The Next G Alliance has united 50 of the leading information and communications companies in a shared commitment to advance the evolution of 5G, chart the future of 6G technology and put North America at the forefront of wireless technology leadership for the next decade and beyond. To find out more, please visit their website.
-by Shelby Roller (G’19)