William E. Kennard

William E. Kennard is a managing director of the Carlyle Group and director of the Media Access Project and Common Sense Media.

"William E. Kennard joined The Carlyle Group in May 2001 as a Managing Director in the Global Telecommunications and Media group. He is based in Washington, DC.

"Since joining Carlyle, Mr. Kennard has played key roles in the investments in Dex Media, Inc., Casema Holdings, BV, Hawaiian Telcom and Insight Communications. Before joining The Carlyle Group, Mr. Kennard served as Chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission from November 1997 to January 2001. Mr. Kennard presided over the FCC at an historic time. During his tenure, he implemented policies that helped to create an explosion of new wireless phones, brought the Internet to a majority of American households and made digital-age technologies more available to schools, libraries, low-income Americans and people with disabilities.

"Mr. Kennard served as the FCC’s general counsel from December 1993 to November 1997. Before serving in government, he was a partner and member of the Board of Directors of the law firm of Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson and Hand, in Washington, D.C.

"Mr. Kennard graduated from Stanford University, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and received his law degree from Yale Law School. He has been awarded honorary degrees from Howard University, Gallaudet University and Long Island University.

"Mr. Kennard is a member of the Board of Directors of Sprint Nextel Corporation, The New York Times Company, Hawaiian Telcom and Insight Communications." 

He also serves on the advisory board of Renaissance Weekend.


 * Vice Chair of the Board of Governors, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies