Manager, Government Relations
Knoxville Utilities Board, Tennessee, United States
Crystal Ivey is a telecommunications policy expert with over a decade of experience advancing broadband access across the U.S. She currently serves as the Government Relations Manager for the Knoxville Utilities Board (KUB), a municipal utility in East Tennessee serving parts of seven counties, where she leads the organization’s strategy in government affairs. KUB is currently undertaking a significant fiber infrastructure deployment that will make it the largest municipally-owned fiber network in the U.S. upon completion.
Before joining KUB, Crystal served as Technical Assistance Director at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) during the Biden administration. There, she led a team supporting state, territory, and tribal efforts to implement high-speed internet grant programs. Her work included offering strategic policy guidance, training, and compliance support to enhance broadband infrastructure across the country.
Earlier in her career, Crystal served as the Broadband Director for the State of Tennessee, where she advised two Governors on telecommunications policy, awarded over $120 million in broadband grants, and implemented policies to improve high-speed internet access statewide. Crystal holds a B.S. in Public Administration and Economics from the University of Tennessee and an MBA from Tennessee Tech University. In 2021, Crystal was recognized as one of the "Women Changing the Fiber Industry" by Fiber Forward Magazine. She supports the East Tennessee community in a variety of ways including engaging with students at the UT Howard H. Baker Jr. School of Public Policy and Public Affairs and is active in multiple nonprofit organizations.
The Community Connection: How Fiber Impacts Economics and Opportunity
Sunday, June 1, 2025
3:45 PM - 4:25 PM CT