NEWS                                              October 7, 1996

SHERYL J. WILKERSON NAMED 
             SPECIAL COUNSEL TO FCC GENERAL COUNSEL

     FCC General Counsel William E. Kennard has named Sheryl J. Wilkerson to serve as
special counsel.  Sheryl is moving from her position as attorney advisor for the FCC's Office
of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs (OLIA).  There she was responsible for
advising the FCC with respect to legislation, coordinating the agency's task force on
telecommunications reform legislation, and monitoring the FCC's implementation of the
Telecommunications Act of 1996.  Prior to joining the FCC, Ms. Wilkerson served as Staff
Counsel to the Senate Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Communications where she
advised former Full Committee Chair, Senator Ernest F. Hollings and former
Communications Subcommittee Chair, Senator Daniel K. Inouye. 

     Prior to this position, Ms. Wilkerson was an Attorney Producer for the Federal
Judicial Center where she produced law and court management publications and
videoprograms for use in training federal judges and federal court personnel.  Ms. Wilkerson
has also worked on a variety of communications and legislative issues for the law firm of
Leventhal, Senter and Lerman; the former Wexler, Reynolds, Fuller, Harrison and Schule,
Inc.; and the National Cable Television Association.  She also served as a Legislative
Assistant to the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications.

      "Sheryl Wilkerson is a highly-respected communications lawyer who brings a wide range
of talents to the Office of General Counsel,"  said  Kennard.  "She is a terrific addition to the
Office of General Counsel and will contribute greatly to our work in many areas."

     Ms. Wilkerson obtained a B.A. in Telecommunications and Afro American Studies with
honors from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana and a J.D. from Georgetown University
in Washington, D.C.

   -FCC-