Public Knowledge
Public Knowledge is a Washington, DC-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 2001 that promotes an open internet, freedom of expression, and affordable communications access through policy analysis, regulatory comments, litigation, coalition leadership, and a fellowship pipeline serving Congress, federal agencies, and the general public.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Public Knowledge does
Public Knowledge is a Washington, DC-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit public interest advocacy organization founded in 2001 that promotes freedom of expression, an open internet, and access to affordable communications tools and creative works. It operates at the intersection of copyright, telecommunications, and internet law, serving the general public, U.S. consumers, Congress, and federal agencies (FCC, FTC, NTIA) by providing expert policy analysis, regulatory comments, congressional testimony, amicus briefs, and coalition-led litigation. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Virginia Lam Abrams and led day-to-day by President and CEO Chris Lewis, supported by a leadership team that includes a COO, Chief of Staff, Senior Vice President, Legal Director, Policy Director, Government Affairs Director, Broadband Policy Director, and Communications Director, with approximately 18-20 total staff.
Public Knowledge's "products" are programs, not software: PKTrains (a fellowship program developing early career policy advocates), the Emerging Tech Event Series (policy convenings since 2012), the Annual IP3 Awards (recognizing contributions in Intellectual Property, Information Policy, and Internet Protocol), the Sherwin Lee Siy Memorial Fund (endowed fellowship), Privileged Conversations (monthly policy breakfasts), the Action Center (a Voter Voice-powered grassroots advocacy platform), PKThinks (forward-looking policy analysis publication), and a Policy Library containing 248 congressional documents and 682 regulatory and legal filings. Distribution is exclusively through policy channels — direct engagement with Congress and federal agencies, coalition partnerships with peer organizations (Free Press, NDIA, EPIC, Open Technology Institute), and earned media across outlets including the New York Times, Washington Post, Ars Technica, The Verge, and CNN.
The business model is nonprofit fundraising rather than commercial sales. Public Knowledge does not charge fees and discloses no products or services for sale; it is funded primarily through charitable foundation grants (Ford Foundation, Democracy Fund, Knight Foundation, Omidyar), corporate donations (Google, Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, AT&T, Verizon, Netflix), individual contributions, and corporate sponsorships of the IP3 Awards and Emerging Tech events. The organization explicitly acknowledges that some funders may disagree with its policy positions and maintains a diverse funding base to preserve mission independence. The go-to-market motion is community-led policy advocacy: building coalitions, mobilizing grassroots supporters through digital campaigns, generating thought leadership, hosting events, and engaging directly with federal policymakers and courts.
Public Knowledge firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Public Knowledge
- Legal name
- Public Knowledge
- Website
- https://publicknowledge.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Public Knowledge is a Washington, DC-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 2001 that promotes an open internet, freedom of expression, and affordable communications access through policy analysis, regulatory comments, litigation, coalition leadership, and a fellowship pipeline serving Congress, federal agencies, and the general public.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Public Knowledge industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Interest Technology Policy Advocacy
- NAICS
- Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418), Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support (9211)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Affairs, Government Relations & Lobbying (BPAFADAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Public Communications, Transparency & Open Government (BPAIAAAH), Public Affairs & Government Relations (MPAAADAE), Public Procurement & Contracting (BPAIAEAE)
Keywords
Where Public Knowledge is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Public Knowledge business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Charitable Foundation Grants: Charitable foundations account for the majority of Public Knowledge's annual revenue. Major funders include Ford Foundation, Democracy Fund, Knight Foundation, Omidyar, and others.
- Corporate Donations: Corporate donations from technology and telecom companies including Google, Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, AT&T, Verizon, Netflix, and others. Public Knowledge notes it receives support from some supporters who may disagree with their positions.
- Individual Donations: Individual donors and supporters, including high-level donors listed at $250+ tier.
- IP3 Awards Sponsorship: Corporate sponsorships for the Annual IP3 Awards event, which recognizes contributions in Intellectual Property, Information Policy, and Internet Protocol.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Public Knowledge product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Public Knowledge is a 501(c)(3) public interest advocacy organization that promotes freedom of expression, an open internet, and access to affordable communications tools and creative works. It shapes technology policy on behalf of the public interest through expert analysis, congressional testimony, regulatory filings, legal briefs, coalition leadership, and grassroots mobilization.
Product overview
Public Knowledge is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit policy advocacy organization, not a software product company. Its offerings consist of advocacy programs, events, awards, and educational resources. The core programs include PKTrains (fellowship/training), the Emerging Tech Event Series (policy convenings), IP3 Awards (recognition), a Policy Library (publications and filings), an Action Center (advocacy campaigns), PKThinks (analysis), Privileged Conversations (discussion forums), and the Sherwin Lee Siy Memorial Fund (fellowship endowment). These programs work together to advance Public Knowledge's mission of promoting freedom of expression, an open internet, and access to affordable communications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- IP3 Awards: Annual awards celebrating contributions in intellectual property, information policy, and internet protocol.
- PKTrains
- PKThinks
- Emerging Tech Event Series
- Sherwin Lee Siy Memorial Fund
Products and services
- PKTrains Public Knowledge's fellowship and internship program that develops diverse early career talent in tech policy through a learn-by-doing approach, placing graduates in positions at public interest organizations, federal agencies, and Capitol Hill.
- Emerging Tech Event Series Signature annual event bringing together public interest advocates, policymakers, and companies to discuss emerging technologies including AI, XR, and decentralized web, featuring workshops, briefings, and tech demonstrations.
- IP3 Awards Annual awards celebrating significant contributions in Intellectual Property, Information Policy, and Internet Protocol that champion public interest advocates helping everyone connect and communicate.
- Action Center Digital advocacy platform enabling supporters to contact Congress through pre-written campaigns on issues including broadband affordability, net neutrality, and digital equity.
- PKThinks Forward-thinking analysis platform for technology policy issues featuring papers, reports, and expert commentary on AI, competition, and digital rights.
- Privileged Conversations Breakfast series providing forums for policymakers, industry, and press to exchange ideas on core policy issues affecting the public interest.
- Sherwin Lee Siy Memorial Fund Endowed fellowship honoring the legacy of Sherwin Lee Siy, supporting the next generation of policy advocates through expanded PKTrains programming.
Quantifiable outcome
- Defeated SOPA/PIPA in 2012, stopping sweeping online censorship legislation
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Public Knowledge
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Public Knowledge technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Public Knowledge partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA)corePublic Knowledge and NDIA launched the Connectivity Policy Corps (CPC) to shape broadband and digital inclusion policies, involving 18 digital inclusion advocate organizations across 14 states. The program provides advocacy tools, training, and engagement with policymakers to promote digital equity, with support from Mission Telecom.
- Civic InitiativescorePublic Knowledge strengthened its public procurement impact through the acquisition of Civic Initiatives, enhancing its capacity to influence government technology procurement policy.
- EPIC (Electronic Privacy Information Center)minorEPIC joined a coalition led by Public Knowledge urging the FCC to implement consumer privacy protections for NextGen TV broadcasting (ATSC 3.0 standard), which enables datacasting and two-way data collection.
- National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA)corePublic Knowledge and NDIA filed joint comments with the FCC opposing proposed Lifeline program reforms that would create barriers for low-income users, arguing the changes would reduce participation and widen the connectivity gap.
- Free PresscoreCoalition of public interest groups including Free Press, Communications Workers of America, United Church of Christ Media Justice Ministry, and Public Knowledge filed an appeal challenging the FCC's approval of the Nexstar-Tegna broadcast merger.
- Open Technology Institute at New AmericaminorSubmitted joint comments to the FCC opposing NextNav's proposal for a PNT service, arguing it would disrupt incumbent unlicensed users of the lower 900 MHz band.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Public Knowledge competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Electronic Frontier Foundation: Leading nonprofit defending civil liberties in the digital world through litigation, policy analysis, and technology development. EFF and Public Knowledge operate in the same Washington/San Francisco advocacy ecosystem on copyright reform, net neutrality, and platform regulation.
- Free Press: Public interest media justice and tech policy advocacy organization headquartered in the U.S. Public Knowledge and Free Press are co-litigants in the Nexstar-Tegna merger appeal and routinely partner on FCC and congressional advocacy across net neutrality, media ownership, and broadband access.
- Fight for the Future: Grassroots advocacy group for digital rights, focused on net neutrality, copyright reform, and online privacy. FFF uses the same Voter Voice-style action alert infrastructure as Public Knowledge and overlaps on the same coalition advocacy campaigns.
- Center for Democracy & Technology: Nonprofit working to strengthen individual rights and democratic values in the digital age. CDT competes for the same foundation grants and policy-advisor mindshare as Public Knowledge across AI, privacy, and platform regulation dockets at the FCC and FTC.
- Electronic Privacy Information Center: Public interest research center focused on privacy and civil liberties. EPIC is an explicit coalition partner with Public Knowledge on NextGen TV/ATSC 3.0 privacy protections and they overlap on consumer privacy, surveillance, and FCC advocacy.
- Access Now: International digital rights organization defending and extending the digital rights of users at risk. Access Now shares Public Knowledge's focus on platform accountability, trustworthy AI, and free expression but with broader global geographic reach.
- National Digital Inclusion Alliance: Nonprofit coalition advancing digital equity and broadband adoption for underserved communities. NDIA is a core strategic partner of Public Knowledge through the Connectivity Policy Corps and they co-filed FCC comments on Lifeline program reform.
- Demand Progress: Progressive advocacy organization focused on internet freedom, civil liberties, and government accountability. Demand Progress and Public Knowledge operate in the same digital-rights coalition ecosystem, particularly on platform regulation and congressional outreach.
- Common Cause Media Reform: Nonpartisan watchdog and grassroots advocacy organization with a media reform program focused on media ownership, net neutrality, and democratic communications. Common Cause and Public Knowledge frequently co-file in FCC proceedings and coalition letters.
- Open Technology Institute at New America: Think tank advancing open, secure, and equitable internet access. OTI and Public Knowledge filed joint FCC comments on the NextNav 900 MHz proposal and they frequently partner on spectrum policy, broadband access, and network neutrality issues.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Public Knowledge social profiles
Digital presencePublic Knowledge financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Public Knowledge leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Public Knowledge funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Public Knowledge M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Public Knowledge
What does Public Knowledge do?
Public Knowledge is a 501(c)(3) public interest advocacy organization that promotes freedom of expression, an open internet, and access to affordable communications tools and creative works. It shapes technology policy on behalf of the public interest through expert analysis, congressional testimony, regulatory filings, legal briefs, coalition leadership, and grassroots mobilization.
Is Public Knowledge a public or private company?
Public Knowledge is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Public Knowledge founded?
Public Knowledge was founded in 2001. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Public Knowledge based?
Public Knowledge is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Public Knowledge make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Charitable Foundation Grants are the primary driver. The others are corporate Donations, individual Donations and IP3 Awards Sponsorship.
Who are Public Knowledge's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Electronic Frontier Foundation, Free Press, Fight for the Future, Center for Democracy & Technology, Electronic Privacy Information Center, Access Now, National Digital Inclusion Alliance, Demand Progress, Common Cause Media Reform and Open Technology Institute at New America.
Does Public Knowledge have an API?
No public API is recorded for Public Knowledge.
What industry is Public Knowledge in?
Public Knowledge's product category is Public Interest Technology Policy Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAFADAB, Public Affairs, Government Relations & Lobbying, with a secondary code of BPAIAAAH, Public Communications, Transparency & Open Government. Its NAICS code is 8133.