William Kennard

William Kennard
Name	William Kennard
Birth date	1957
Birth place	Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Occupation	Lawyer, diplomat, regulator, corporate executive
Spouse	Sharon Rogers

William Kennard

William E. Kennard is an American attorney, diplomat, regulator, and corporate executive who served as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission and as United States Ambassador to the European Union. He has held senior leadership roles at major technology and media companies and has been active in Democratic politics and civil rights organizations. Kennard's career spans public service, corporate governance, and advocacy on issues including telecommunications policy, trade, and diversity in corporate leadership.

Early life and education

Born in Detroit, Michigan, Kennard attended Cass Technical High School before enrolling at Princeton University, where he earned an undergraduate degree. He later attended Yale Law School, receiving a Juris Doctor. During his formative years he was influenced by civil rights leaders and legal scholars associated with institutions such as the National Urban League and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

Legal and private sector career

After law school, Kennard clerked for federal judges and joined prominent law firms in Washington, D.C. and New York City, working on cases involving telecommunications, civil rights, and corporate matters. He served as an attorney with the Antitrust Division-related matters and advised clients on regulatory proceedings at the Federal Communications Commission and transactions overseen by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Kennard later became chief counsel to senior officials in the Department of Justice and worked with legal teams engaged with companies such as AT&T, Verizon Communications, Time Warner, and Comcast on policy and transactional work. He also held executive roles at media and technology firms, collaborating with boards and management at corporations like Black Entertainment Television, AOL, and multinational firms active in Europe and Asia.

Federal Communications Commission chairmanship

Nominated by President Bill Clinton and confirmed by the United States Senate, Kennard served as a Commissioner and then as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission from 1997 to 2001. His tenure included high-profile decisions on telecommunications deregulatory measures, spectrum allocation, broadband deployment initiatives, and media ownership rules affecting companies such as Clear Channel Communications, Viacom, Disney, and News Corporation. Kennard led efforts to expand access to advanced services, coordinate with agencies including the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the Federal Trade Commission, and engage international counterparts like the International Telecommunication Union on standards. His FCC policies interacted with landmark statutes and proceedings, including interpretations of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and enforcement actions touching Universal Service Fund programs.

U.S. Ambassador to the European Union

Appointed by President Barack Obama, Kennard served as United States Ambassador to the European Union from 2009 to 2013. In Brussels, he worked with institutions such as the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council of the European Union to coordinate U.S.-EU cooperation on trade, transatlantic data flows, sanctions related to crises such as the Ukraine crisis and Libya intervention, and regulatory approaches to digital markets involving firms like Google, Microsoft, Apple Inc., and Facebook. Kennard engaged leaders from member states including Germany, France, and United Kingdom officials during negotiations on bilateral and multilateral initiatives such as Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership-adjacent dialogues and data protection discussions tied to the General Data Protection Regulation-era developments.

Later career and board memberships

After diplomatic service, Kennard returned to the private sector, holding senior roles at global firms and serving on corporate and nonprofit boards. He joined the executive leadership of Cox Enterprises and served in positions interacting with subsidiaries including Cox Communications and Cox Media Group. Kennard has been a board director for companies such as United Airlines Holdings and has served on governance bodies of organizations like the Brookings Institution, the Ford Foundation, and the National Urban League. His board work has focused on technology policy, corporate responsibility, and diversity initiatives, overlapping with initiatives by Catalyst and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Personal life and honors

Kennard is married to Sharon Rogers; they have two children and maintain residences consistent with professional ties to Washington, D.C. and California. He has received honors from institutions including Howard University School of Law, industry groups such as the Consumer Electronics Association, and civic organizations recognizing leadership in public service and corporate diversity. Kennard's career has been profiled in outlets like The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal and acknowledged by awards from legal and policy organizations including the American Bar Association and the NAACP.

Category:1957 births Category:Living people Category:United States Ambassadors to the European Union Category:Chairmen of the Federal Communications Commission