OTI Director Sarah Morris to Join NTIA as Senior Advisor

Sarah Morris, director of New America’s Open Technology Institute and a longtime public interest advocate, will join the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) as Senior Advisor to Assistant Secretary Alan Davidson—also a former director of OTI—beginning Monday, February 28. Morris will work closely with Davidson as the agency undertakes a historic opportunity to invest in bridging the digital divide.

Chhaya Kapadia, OTI’s chief of staff, will serve as interim director.

Over nearly 11 years at OTI, Morris worked extensively on broadband access and adoption issues, including a landmark series of Cost of Connectivity studies. She led this work for several years before becoming director in 2019, and she now oversees the organization’s full portfolio of policy advocacy, research, and technical analysis.

The following can be attributed to Sarah Morris, outgoing director of New America’s Open Technology Institute:

"It is a privilege to join NTIA under Alan’s leadership as the agency stands up programs to implement billions of dollars in investments in digital equity, and drives critical conversations around today’s most pressing tech issues. It is bittersweet to depart the organization where I built the foundation of my professional career, and I am grateful to everyone who has supported and mentored me in my time at New America. I have the utmost confidence in Chhaya and the entire OTI staff as they continue OTI’s longstanding and important portfolio of work. I couldn’t be more proud of what we’ve accomplished, and I look forward to watching the organization continue to grow."

The following can be attributed to Chhaya Kapadia, incoming interim director of New America’s Open Technology Institute:

"It’s a testament to Sarah’s energy, vision, and leadership that she will join another former OTI director in overseeing much-needed broadband investments at a crucial moment for internet access and adoption nationwide. In 11 years at OTI, Sarah brought rigor and strategic acumen to our policy work and helped build our organization into what it is today—a key advocate for affordable broadband access, data privacy, surveillance reform, encryption, online platform accountability, and more at a time when these issues have never been more important. We wish Sarah all the best in her new role at NTIA.

"OTI’s commitment to effective and equitable investments in broadband infrastructure remains a foundational element of our work. We look forward to working with Sarah and Assistant Secretary Davidson as they undertake this historic investment in broadband access."