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Richard E. Wiley

Chairman Emeritus at Wiley Rein LLP

Richard E. Wiley's profile photo
LocationWashingtonDistrict of Columbia, United States
Current roleChairman EmeritusWiley Rein LLP · since May 2025
Government service15yrsFederal Communications Commission (FCC)

About

Dick, co-founder and name partner of the firm, has received numerous accolades throughout his storied career, including being named a Washington “Visionary” by The National Law Journal, the “most influential media and telecommunications lawyer in the United States” by the International Herald Tribune, one of the top “100 Men of the Century” by Broadcasting & Cable, and the “Father of High-Definition” television by The Globe and Mail. As Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), he fostered increased competition and lessened regulation in the communications field. Dick 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. He has represented a number of major communications-oriented organizations, including Verizon, AT&T, JP Morgan, Credit Suisse, Newspaper Association of America, Motorola, CBS, Belo, Gannett, Sirius/XM, Emmis, Gray Television, and LG. Dick also is a frequent author and lecturer on telecommunications and information law. 

Roles

May 2025–Present
Current role

Chairman Emeritus

Wiley Rein LLP

Washington, District of Columbia

Planning, Policy, StrategyManagement

Dick heads the firm’s 80-attorney Communications Practice, the largest in the nation. As Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), he fostered increased competition and lessened regulation in the communications field. Dick 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. He represents a number of major communications-oriented organizations, including Verizon, AT&T, JP Morgan, Credit Suisse, Newspaper Association of America, Motorola, CBS, Belo, Gannett, Sirius/XM, Emmis, Gray Television, and LG. Dick also is a frequent author and lecturer on telecommunications and information law.

Jan 1987–Jan 1995
Former role

Chair

Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Advisory Committee on Advanced Television Service

(appointed)District of Columbia

Planning, Policy, StrategyPublic PolicyProjects, Programs and Advisors
Jan 1970–Jan 1977
Former role

Chairman, Commissioner and General Counsel

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

(appointed)District of Columbia

Communications LawPlanning, Policy, StrategyPublic PolicyLegislative Affairs

Recognition

Honors

Accolades

May 2025

Recognized by Washingtonian magazine as one of Washington's 30 “Superstar" lawyers for his role as “the unofficial sixth commissioner” of the FCC (2011) and consistently named one of Washington's “Best Lawyers” and “Top Lawyers” by the magazine Included among Bloomberg Businessweek's list of Washington, DC “Power Brokers” (2011) Named the Washington, DC Administrative/Regulatory Law “Lawyer of the Year” by The Best Lawyers in America directory (2011) Named to the National Law Journal's list of “The Decade's Most Influential Lawyers” (2010) Named a “Star of the Bar” (2009) by Washingtonian magazine The “most prominent telecommunications lawyer and lobbyist in Washington” by Broadcasting & Cable (2005) The “Father of High-Definition” television by The Globe and Mail (2005) The “most influential media and telecommunications lawyer in the United States” by the International Herald Tribune (2003) An “Enduring Influence” by The National Law Journal, which has regularly named him as one of “The 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America” (1988, 1991, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2013) “The Sixth Commissioner” by the Los Angeles Times (2001) The “Godfather of HDTV” by Mediaweek (2001) “A Telecom Lion” by Investor's Business Daily (1996) The “Lion of the Communications Bar” by The National Law Journal (1995) “Telecommunications' Ubiquitous Man of Influence” by The New York Times (1992) The “Brand Name of the Communications Bar” by The American Lawyer (1992) One of the top “100 Men of the Century” by Broadcasting & Cable (1999) One of HollywoodReporter, ESQ's “Power Lawyers 2007,” for outstanding achievements in and contributions to entertainment and media law (2007) Named a Legal Times “Visionary,” one of a select group of lawyers “whose foresight and hard work have changed the business of law in Washington” (2008) The Washington, DC area's “Leading Communications Lawyer” by Legal Times (2007) One of Washington's “Top 30 Lawyers” by Washingtonian magazine, which recognized him as “a force in developing both policies and technologies” (2004) Listed by Chambers USA as one of “America's Leading Lawyers for Business” for both Telecom, Broadcast & Satellite and Media & Entertainment: Mainly Regulatory (2003-2017) One of the Lawdragon “500 Leading Lawyers in America” (2005-2008, 2010-2013); one of the Lawdragon 500 “Dealmakers” (2007); and one of Lawdragon's “100 Managing Partners You Need to Know” (2008) Named a Legal 500 leading lawyer, “peerless” in the areas of Media and Telecom law (2007-2018) and recognized in the “Hall of Fame” (2021) One of the Washington, DC area's “Top Ten” lawyers by Super Lawyers magazine (2007, 2008) Named one of DC's “Top 100 Lawyers” (2009-2012, 2014) and “Super Lawyers” (2009-2020, 2022) for Communications by Super Lawyers magazine Recognized as one of The Best Lawyers in America for Communications Law, Administrative/Regulatory Law, Media Law, and Mergers & Acquisition Law for decades Rated in the top tier of regulatory communications attorneys by The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers, which includes him in its lists of “the practice area's elite” and “most highly regarded individuals.” The publication also notes that he is said to be a “doyen of the communications bar” (2005-2013) Named one of DC's “Power 100” by Washington Life Magazine (2007) Named to Washingtonian magazine's “Power 150” list of Washington's “most influential” (2007) Named to the Washingtonian list of top communications lawyers to see if you have business with the FCC (2007) Recognized as a “Leading Individual” in the field of Telecommunications Law by the Practical Law Company's Which Lawyer? directory (2007) Included in Legal Media Group's Expert Guides: Guide to the World's Leading Telecommunications Lawyers (2011) Included in Legal Media Group's Expert Guides: Guide to the World's Leading Technology, Media & Telecommunications Lawyers (2007, 2010) Included in Legal Media Group's Expert Guides: Guide to the World's Leading Lawyers-Best of the Best USA (2006, 2009) AV Peer Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell's highest ranking by peers for general ethical standards and legal ability.

Awards

May 2025

National Law Journal's Lifetime Achievement Award (2023) Broadcasters Foundation of America's Lifetime Achievement Award (2023) Broadcasters Foundation of America's Lowry Mays Excellence in Broadcasting Award (2014) Library of American Broadcasting’s Giants of Broadcasting Award (2013) American Lawyer's Lifetime Achiever Award (2012) Consumer Electronics Hall of Fame Award (2009) Award of Special Recognition from the Radio and Television News Directors Foundation (2007) Chambers USA Award for Excellence in the area of telecommunications regulatory work (2006) The North American Broadcasters Association's International Achievement Award (2004) The National Association of Broadcasters' Distinguished Service Award (2002) The RCR Wireless Hall of Fame Award (2002) The Digital Pioneer's Award (2000) An Emmy from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (1997) The Electronic Industries' Medal of Honor (1996) Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame Award (1993)

Publications & speeches

Telecom, Media & Technology 2018 Guide: Introduction

Chambers and Partners

April 2018

Wiley Rein LLP has the largest Telecom, Media & Technology (TMT) law practice in the United States with more than 60 attorneys and engineers engaged full-time. The practice encompasses virtually all aspects of federal, state, and international laws governing the telecommunications, media, and technology industries. The size and experience of the Practice enables the firm to handle the full scope of telecommunications, wireless, litigation, international, satellite, and media issues – from headline-setting, billion-dollar mergers to business disputes and regulatory initiatives. The team has extensive familiarity with the government institutions that shape and administer all manner of communications regulations and policies. Group members include individuals who have occupied high-level positions at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the US Department of State, and the US Department of Commerce, as well as in the US Congress.

Link

Time for Change

Broadcasting & Cable

December 2017

Link

Newspaper/Broadcast Cross-Ownership: Time for Change

Broadcasting & Cable

November 2017

In 1975, the Federal Communications Commission (during my tenure as chair) adopted rules that prohibited the common ownership of a daily print newspaper and a full-power broadcast station (radio or television) in the same market. It did so at a time when newspapers played a dominant role in this nation’s media landscape. And the agency’s regulations largely were based on concerns about that perceived dominance and the effect that it might have on viewpoint diversity.

Link

Business and Commercial Litigation in Federal Courts, Fourth Edition

Thomson Reuters and American Bar Association Section of Litigation

February 2017

Business and Commercial Litigation in Federal Courts: Communications Litigation, Fourth Edition

Thomson Reuters

December 2016

Implementing Real Regulatory Reform at the FCC

The Free State Foundation's Policy Seminar — Washington, DC

July 2015

Link

Opening Remarks

VCXC Start! Forum — Washington, DC

June 2013

Future Policy for the Federal Communications Commission

Hudson Institute's Center for Economics of the Internet — Washington, DC

February 2013