Dick Wiley is co-founder of the law firm Wiley Rein, LLP in Washington, DC, and a pioneer of HDTV and of wireless and broadband policy. Raised in the suburbs of Chicago, Dick began his career in the JAG Corps at the Pentagon. Early on he was encouraged to work for the FCC and started in 1970 as General Counsel. He was then appointed as commissioner, and later named Chairman of the FCC. He served as Chairman under three Presidents (Nixon, Ford and Carter) from March 8, 1974 to October 12, 1977.

During his tenure at the FCC, Dick advocated for increased competition and lessened regulation in the communications sector. He witnessed the very initial stages of cellular and helped lay the ground work for what would become wireless with developmental cellular systems in Chicago and Baltimore/Washington. His involvement also included telephone, broadcasting and early cable TV.

After the FCC, Dick practiced law at Kirkland & Ellis, and in 1983 co-founded Wiley Rein and used his FCC experience to develop the practice. In 1987, Dick chaired the FCC’s Advisory Committee on Advanced Television Service (high-definition service). Over the next 9 years working pro-bono, Dick and the committee developed a new digital standard for high-definition television and multi-channel service. Dick and the team received an Emmy Award from the National Academy for Television Arts and Sciences for their work in creating this standard, which is still used today. He was dubbed “The Father of High Definition” television by The Globe and Mail and has received numerous accolades for his work on this high-def digital standard.

Dick earned BS and JD degrees from Northwestern University and obtained a masters of law degree from Georgetown Law. He is Chairman Emeritus of Wiley Rein, LLP and a frequent lecturer on communications policy. Dick was named the “most influential media and telecommunications lawyer in the United States” by the International Herald Tribune, and one of the “100 Men of the Century” by Broadcasting & Cable. In addition to the Emmy, his honors and awards include the Electronic Industries’ Medal of Honor, the North American Broadcasters Association’s International Achievement Award, the Digital Pioneer’s Award, and the Chambers USA Award for Excellence in the area of telecommunications regulatory work. Dick was inducted into the Wireless Hall of Fame in 2002.