Panelist Biographies
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Deborah Taylor Tate, Director,
Tennessee Regulatory Authority
Deborah Taylor Tate was appointed to serve a six-year term as a Director of the Tennessee Regulatory Authority on February 1, 2002 by Governor Don Sundquist, and confirmed by the Tennessee General Assembly prior to the term commencing on July 1, 2002. She served a one-year term as Chairman of the TRA from July 1, 2003-2004. Tate has a long and distinguished public service career, having recently served as Director of the State and Local Policy Center at Vanderbilt University.
During her '03-'04 term as Chairman of the Tennessee Regulatory Authority, Tate initiated a statewide Natural Gas Symposium on winter heating issues, as well as other community outreach and education efforts. On July 1, 2003, she hosted the kick-off of the new Do Not Fax program administered by the TRA. In June of 2003, Tate was appointed Vice-Chair of the Washington Action Committee by the President of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC). In December of 2003, FCC Chairman Michael Powell appointed Tate to the Federal Communications Commission's Federal-State Joint Conference on Advanced Telecommunications Services. She also serves on the Consumer Affairs and Gas Committees of NARUC, and is a member NARUCÕs Triennial Review Implementation Process (TRIP) Task Force. She is also a member of the Southeastern Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (SEARUC). Most recently, Tate assumed Chairmanship of Washington Action.
Prior to her association at Vanderbilt, Tate served as an Assistant to Governor Sundquist and was a member of his Senior Staff. She was his designee to the Juvenile Justice Commission, the TennCare Partners Advisory Committee, and the Title 33 - Mental Health Revision Commission.
Tate holds B.A. and J.D. degrees from the University of Tennessee, and also attended Vanderbilt School of Law.
April 2005