WILLIAM KENNARD

Bill Kennard, the first African-American chairman of the FCC, is committed to making sure that all Americans - no matter where they live, what their age, or what special needs they may have - have access to the technologies that are driving our economy and shaping our society. Kennard has been called, "a consumer advocate for the digital age," fighting to protect consumers in the telecom marketplace and ensuring that they have the information needed to make the best choices for them in a competitive marketplace.

William E. Kennard was sworn in as Chairman of the FCC on November 7, 1997. His term expires on June 30, 2001. A native of Los Angeles, Kennard graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Stanford University and received his law degree from Yale Law School in 1981. Before becoming chairman, Kennard was the FCC's General Counsel, the Commission's principal legal advisor and representative in court. Before joining the FCC, Kennard was a partner and member of the board of directors of the Washington, DC law firm of Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson, and Hand. Chairman Kennard is married to Deborah Diane Kennedy of Greenville, South Carolina. They live in Washington, D.C.

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