The Palmer Chair in Telecommunications Studies, and associated programming such as the Palmer Chair Lecture, was created in 1988 with initial contributions of $1.5 million from State College residents and cable television pioneers James R. and Barbara R. Palmer.

An honorary Penn State alumnus, James Palmer died in October 2001. Before his 1985 retirement, Palmer served as chief executive of State College-based C-COR Electronics, a major supplier of cable television components. He was the former director of the National Cable Television Association, founding president of the Association of Cable Television Suppliers and honorary chair of the College of Communications portion of the Grand Destiny Campaign.

William B. Peterson, president of Verizon Pennsylvania, presented the 2007 Palmer Chair Lecture on April 11.

Lecture archived online at
http://win.wpsu.org/palmer