My Mobile Moments

Kathleen Q. Abernathy is a partner at Wilkinson, Barker, Knauer, LLP, where she represents clients at both the federal and state levels, as well as before various international and foreign regulatory agencies. In addition, she consults with foreign governments regarding privatization efforts. Abernathy previously served as a commissioner at the Federal Communications Commission. Nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed unanimously by the U.S. Senate to a four-year term in 2001, she was responsible for representing the public interest in each of the policy areas under the FCC’s jurisdiction, including wireless; domestic and international telecommunications; satellite; broadcast; cable; communications equipment manufacturers; and broadband, IP and other advanced communications technologies. She helped develop and implement domestic policy in each of these fields. Abernathy also chaired the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service and participated in numerous international bilateral and multilateral negotiations, including the 2002 International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference and the 2003 ITU World Radiocommunications Conference. She was appointed by the ITU to chair the 2004 ITU Global Symposium for Regulators. Before joining the FCC as a commissioner, Abernathy served as vice president, public policy at BroadBand Office Communications; as vice president of regulatory affairs at US West and as vice president of federal regulatory at AirTouch Communications (a predecessor company to Verizon Wireless Communications). Earlier in her career, she served as a legal advisor to two FCC commissioners and as a special assistant to the agency’s general counsel.

Questions and Answers

Mobile devices: Blackberry Pearl

How do you currently use your mobile devices: News, emails, voice, web access

How would you like to be able to use your mobile devices in the future: To monitor my health.

Why did you join the MobileFuture coalition: It provides a unique opportunity to help chart the future of mobile technology and reach out to consumers about the wealth of information and applications.  While not everyone will have the skill set or the economic ability to operate and manage a home computer network, handheld wireless devices will offer most, if not all, of the same capabilities.  Every day more lives will be improved as wireless facilitates better life/work balance, provides improved safety and security, and opens up the world to people previously isolated.   

What is your vision for the future of wireless: Technological improvements and increased spectrum availability will drive new applications that will extend to banking, health care, and education.