Vantaggi
There are some truly kind, smart people who work here and are dedicated to the cause of expanding rural broadband service. It's a mystery why they stay. If you're new to DC, this is a good place to "learn the Hill." The benefits are as stellar as advertised.
Svantaggi
This is an incredibly demoralizing and frustrating place to work-- especially in certain departments. Chains of command are not always clear, departments are siloed from one another and there is an environment of competition and one-upmanship rather than humble collaboration. Work is done and redone because assignments are not clearly communicated. In the Comms department, flash is emphasized over substance. There are clear "favorite" people and priorities within the organization and others' work is undervalued and minimized. People are ruthlessly fired without notice or slowly pushed out when they don't "fit in" to the culture here. Management is not open to constructive criticism or new ideas, and those who try to grow or experiment are dismissed. If you're fulfilled by simply shutting yourself in an office and churning out copy, you could work here and be content. If you want to build meaningful relationships with your coworkers and produce substantive content that can inform industry members and the Hill, look elsewhere. I would not reapply to the position I held here, knowing what I know now.