Richard E. Wiley

Richard E. Wiley is the managing partner of Wiley Rein & Fielding, a corporate law firm in Washington, DC, where he heads the firm "80-attorney communications practice." [1] His son, Douglas S. Wiley, became the National Association of Broadcasters' head lobbyist in April 2006. [2] (The younger Wiley left NAB in 2009.)

Background

Wiley was the Chairman, Commissioner and General Counsel of the Federal Communications Commission between 1970 and 1977. According to a biographical note at the FCC "he advocated increased competition and lessened regulation in the communications field." He represents clients including Viacom/CBS, Gannett, Belo, Emmis, Gray Television, Verizon, SBC, BellSouth, Motorola, General Motors, Zenith and the Newspaper Association of America. [3]

Mr. Wiley played a pivotal role in the development of HDTV in this country, serving for nine years as Chairman of the FCC’s Advisory Committee on Advanced Television Service. [4]

Wiley is also a member of the Republican National Lawyers Association Board and Co-Chairman of "its Judicial Advocacy panel, which fights to confirm" President George W. Bush's judicial nominees. [5]

In 2004 Wiley was named "Republican Lawyer of the Year in recognition of his outstanding professional accomplishments and years of dedicated service to the Republican Party." [6] In 2000 he served "as National Co-Chair of Lawyers for Bush-Cheney and in 1992 as National Co-Chair of Lawyers for Bush-Cheney." [7]

Reed E. Hundt, who was chairman of the F.C.C. during the Clinton administration, told the New York Times that "Dick Wiley is very gracious and very tough and basically his office is the most well-lubricated office in Washington." Hundt said that "If you want to buy access, that's the place to go. People generally retain Dick to oppose progressive initiatives." [8] Los Angeles Times journalist Jube Shiver Jr. noted that Wiley was such as common sight at the FCC building that he was "called the sixth FCC commissioner." [9]

Political Contributions

Wiley has been a regular contributor to both individual political candidates campaigns and political ction committees. [10] Wiley's has contributed to:

• Rely On Your Beliefs Fund
• Bluegrass Committee
• David Drier
• Richard Santorum
• Orrin Hatch
• Wilbert J. Tauzin
• Rob Simmons
• James W. Demint
• Judd Gregg
• Norm Coleman
• John McCain
• Robert D. Franks
• Republican National Committee
• Howard L. Berman
• Robert J. Dole
• John William Warner
• Jack M. Fields Jr.
• Andrew Lamar Alexander
• Oliver North
• Edward Kennedy

Affiliations

Professional

• Chairman, Commissioner and General Counsel, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) (1970-1977)
• Chairman, FCC's Advisory Committee on Advanced Television Service (re digital television)
• Former Republican Lawyer of the Year (2004)
• Former President, Federal Bar Association
• Former President, Federal Communications Bar Asssociation
• Member, "Hall of Fame", Broadcasting & Cable magazine
• Recipient, Emmy award from Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (1997)
• Trustee, The Media Institute

Political

• National Co-Chair, Lawyers for Bush-Cheney (2000)
• National Co-Chair, Lawyers for Bush-Quayle (1992)

Articles and resources

Related SourceWatch articles

• Federal Communications Commission
• Wiley Rein & Fielding

External resources

• Wiley, Rein, & Fielding Biography.

External articles

• Jube Shiver Jr., Citizens Knocking on FCC's Door; You don't have to be an insider to get a private meeting with the agency's commissioners", Los Angeles Times, January 26, 2003. (Teaser only, paid access for full content).
• Stephen Labaton, "Behind Media Rule and Its End, One Man", New York Times, June 2, 2003. (Teaser only, paid access for full content).