Biography
Executive Director
Eric E. Richardson

Eric E. Richardson has used the platform of radio and television broadcasting to inform, engage and entertain audiences for over twenty years.

Since 2008 Mr. Richardson has served as Executive Director of the District of Columbia Office of Cable Television (OCT). OCT is the District government agency responsible for regulating cable television in the District, as well as the administration of the District's Government Access Channels: District Council Channel (DCC), District of Columbia Network (DCN), and the District's Education Access Channel, District Knowledge Network (DKN). Through its three cable television channels, OCT provides public access to the governmental process and educates and entertains District residents and visitors. Under Richardson's leadership, OCT has experienced unprecedented success in operations and programming.

OCT original productions have collected five National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA) Government Programming Awards for Enslavement to Emancipation, Washington Full Circle: Cinema City, Cable Talk, School Sketch, and an award in the category of Overall Excellence in Government Programming. In addition to the national acclaim, OCT has received rave reviews from local residents for initiating televising of the DC Interscholastic Athletic Associations (DCIAA) Thanksgiving Day Turkey Bowl football championship game in 2010 and the Abe Pollin City Title Games.

As the agency's chief executive, he has brought stability and vision. After 25 years of leasing various spaces across the city, Mr. Richardson oversaw the selection, procurement and $7 million renovation of the permanent home for OCT headquarters at the location of the former studios of Black Entertainment Television. Through his guidance, in April 2009 the District of Columbia signed a record franchise agreement bringing Verizon FiOS service to the residents of the District of Columbia, adding a third and competitive cable provider.

In addition, Richardson spearheaded the Digital Television (DTV) transition campaign, representing the Executive Office of the Mayor, in partnership with the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) reaching thousands of DC residents to ensure that they were DTV ready. Before being appointed Executive Director he served as OCT's Director of Programming. Prior to joining OCT, Richardson worked for Howard University's PBS affiliate, WHUT-TV, as the Director of Broadcast Services. Additionally, he served as Executive Producer of Evening Exchange with Kojo Nnamdi and played a key role in the development and direction of such shows as TheTavis Smiley Show, Moneywise with Kelvin Boston, and White House Chronicles. Richardson worked directly with Howard University President H. Patrick Swygert and WHUT's General Managers Jennifer Lawson and Adam Clayton Powell III in developing the channel's creative vision.

Richardson's prior positions include Director of Content and Traffic Management for Media General Cable (Mega Advertising, Inc.); Director for Programming and Production at Broadcast Holdings' WYCB-AM; and, Director of Programming at WNDC-AM in Baton Rouge. He has created programming content and marketing campaigns for Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB), The Shakespeare Theater, True Colors Theater Company, Clear Channel Communications and Childhelp USA.

Mr. Richardson is a member of the Washington, DC Economic Partnership (WDCEP) and served on the Lincoln Theatre Foundation Board of Directors and former member of the Board of Governors for the National Capital/Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) where he co-chaired the Student Affairs committee. Dedicated to service leadership, he is a weekly volunteer to a DC Public Schools elementary school student through the Reading Partners Washington, DC program and has developed and implemented policies to allow all OCT employees to participate in volunteer engagement opportunities.

He has been a featured speaker/presenter for the United States Telecommunications Training Institute, Howard University; the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors; American Public Television; and a two time Emmy nominated producer. A native of Louisiana, Mr. Richardson received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications from The Manship School of Journalism at Louisiana State University and currently resides in Ward 6.