Someone You Should Know: Conrad Clemson

If you’re looking for someone focused on turning promise into practice, Conrad Clemson has a pretty clear mantra: make it real. As CEO of EdgeBeam Wireless, he’s helping bring to life the first ATSC 3.0-based wireless data service in the U.S. and his days are centered on execution.

“At a young company, the most important decision I make each day is where to spend my time,” he says. That means working across teams to move the business forward on multiple fronts: supporting engineers as they finalize a minimum viable product, collaborating with sales teams running more than ten active trials, and integrating newly acquired technology and talent. The goal is simple, even if the work isn’t — deliver.

Conrad’s path to ATSC 3.0 came through two decades in the traditional wireless world, working closely with major carriers. What caught his attention about ATSC 3.0 was how different it is at its core. Unlike conventional networks, it’s built on multicast architecture, opening the door to new efficiencies and entirely new use cases. That distinction, he says, is what makes the technology and EdgeBeam’s mission so compelling.

At EdgeBeam, ATSC 3.0 isn’t just a piece of the strategy; it is the strategy. The company is focused on translating the standard’s capabilities into real-world deployments and commercial applications, pushing beyond theory into tangible results.

Looking ahead, Conrad sees a perfect storm of demand and opportunity. With wireless data consumption continuing to surge and emerging technologies like AI, autonomous systems, and edge computing reshaping the landscape, he believes ATSC 3.0 can play a meaningful role in the next evolution of the internet. “It offers a fundamentally different way to deliver data at scale,” he notes, pointing to its potential as part of the solution to growing network demands.

Outside the office, Conrad splits his time between Boston and Hawaii with his wife, Christine. Their family is spread across the globe, from Tokyo to Massachusetts, and they make the most of time together through travel, golf, and as much time in Kauai as possible. Closer to home, you might find them at a Boston sports bar tackling The New York Times word puzzles where, as Conrad puts it, “if you’re not ‘Queen Bee,’ you’re not done.”

On the entertainment front, he’s currently reading The Dynasty, a fitting choice for a longtime New England Patriots fan, and counts How the Universe Works as his go-to binge-worthy show.

And if he weren’t leading a company at the forefront of next-generation broadcast technology? Conrad has a ready answer: he’d be guiding outdoor hikes on Kauai – still exploring, just on a different kind of path.