Kathleen Q. Abernathy

Kathleen Quinn Abernathy
Born 1956
Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Citizenship American
Alma mater Marquette University
The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law
Occupation Attorney
Employer Wilkinson Barker Knauer
Title former Federal Communications Commissioner
Successor Robert M. McDowell
Political party Republican
Board member of Frontier Communications, Stanford University, ictQATAR

Kathleen Quinn Abernathy (born 1956) is an American lawyer. She is currently a partner at Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP, a Washington, DC communications law firm. Abernathy was previously Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from 2001 to 2005.[1] She graduated from Marquette University magna cum laude, and from Catholic University's Columbus School of Law.[2]

Contents

Early career

Prior to her FCC appointment, Abernathy was Vice President of Public Policy at BroadBand Office Communications, Inc.; a partner at the law firm of Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP; Vice President for Regulatory Affairs at U.S. West, Inc.; and Vice President for Federal Regulatory Affairs at AirTouch Communications, Inc. Earlier in her career, she was a Legal Advisor to FCC Chairman James H. Quello, Legal Advisor to Commissioner Sherrie P. Marshall, and Special Assistant to the FCC’s General Counsel.[3]

FCC appointment

Abernathy was nominated to the FCC by President George W. Bush on May 1, 2001. She was sworn on May 31, 2001 and served until December 9, 2005.[1] During her tenure, Abernathy chaired the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service[4] and participated in numerous international bilateral and multilateral negotiations, including the 2002 ITU Plenipotentiary Conference and the 2003 ITU World Radiocommunications Conference. She also was appointed and served as Chair of the 2004 ITU Global Symposium for Regulators.[5]

Late career

From 2006 to 2008, she worked at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld.[6] In 2010, she joined Frontier Communications as Chief Legal Officer.[7]

Family

Abernathy is married and has one daughter.

References

  1. ^ a b "Kathleen Q. Abernathy: Biography". WBK. http://www.wbklaw.com/sub/bio/KathleenQ.AbernathyWilkinsonBarkerKnauerLLP-Partner.htm. Retrieved 2008-08-19. 
  2. ^ http://www.ct-enterprises.com/Print/Printable.aspx?p=32
  3. ^ http://www.ct-enterprises.com/Print/Printable.aspx?p=32
  4. ^ http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04J-1A2.doc
  5. ^ http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/treg/Events/Seminars/GSR/GSR04/press_clippings.html#8
  6. ^ Jones, Ashby (March 13, 2006). "Former FCC Commissioner Kathleen Abernathy to Join Akin Gump". The Wall Street Journal. http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2006/03/13/former-fcc-commissioner-kathleen-abernathy-to-join-akin-gump/. 
  7. ^ Forbes. http://people.forbes.com/profile/kathleen-quinn-abernathy/19793.