David Farber

David J. Farber (1934–2026) was a renowned computer scientist whose work influenced distributed systems, early networking, and Internet policy. He served as Professor Emeritus at Carnegie Mellon University, where he helped build one of the nation's leading computer science departments and conducted foundational research in distributed computing, email systems, and communications protocols. Farber passed away on February 7, 2026, in Tokyo, Japan, at the age of 91.

Earlier in his career, Farber contributed to the development of the world's first operational time-sharing system at the University of Michigan and later helped lead research at Bell Labs and the University of Delaware that shaped high-speed networking and large-scale distributed systems. His work on the SNOBOL language and on early communications software influenced multiple generations of programming environments.

In public service, Farber served as Chief Technologist of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), where he provided technical guidance on broadband policy, telecommunications regulation, and Internet governance. His policy writings and congressional testimony were influential in debates about open networks, privacy, and digital rights.

Farber was also well known for his "Interesting People" email list, one of the earliest large-scale Internet discussion forums bringing together scientists, journalists, policymakers, and entrepreneurs to discuss emerging issues in technology and society.

Across research, teaching, entrepreneurship, and policy, David Farber helped guide the evolution of computer networking from its experimental origins to its role as the backbone of modern life.