NAB Honors Dick Wiley with Distinguished Service Award

March 7, 2002

Washington, DC-The National Association of Broadcasters has selected Richard E. Wiley , senior partner at Wiley Rein & Fielding LLP, as the recipient of the 2002 Distinguished Service Award. The award will be presented at the All-Industry Opening Ceremony, April 8 at NAB2002 in Las Vegas. It is the world's largest trade event covering the convergence of broadcasting, multimedia and the Internet, audio and video communications, and telecommunications.

Each year the NAB recognizes an individual who has made significant and lasting contributions to U.S. broadcasting. Recent recipients of the award include Radio One founder and chairperson, Catherine Hughes, Hearst Corp. President and CEO Frank Bennack and The Cox Family. Other recipients include Walter Cronkite, Edward R. Murrow and Bob Hope.

"Dick Wiley has been a lawyer's lawyer, a leader without peer, and a trusted friend to broadcasters for three decades," said NAB President and CEO Edward O. Fritts. "With this award, we salute his lifelong contributions to this great industry."

Mr. Wiley is the firm's managing partner and head of its 70-lawyer communications practice. He has been profiled in The New York Times ("Telecommunications' Ubiquitous Man of Influence"), and the Los Angeles Times ("The Sixth Commissioner").

As a former Chairman, Commissioner and General Counsel of the Federal Communications Commission, Mr. Wiley was a leading force in the agency's initial efforts to foster increased competition and reduced regulation in the communications field. He also led the FCC's Advisory Committee on Advanced Television Services, which resulted in the government's adoption of a new digital television standard for the U.S. For his nine-year effort, Mr. Wiley received an Emmy from the Academy of Arts and Sciences and also the Electronic Industry Association's Medal of Honor.