Alfred C. Sikes
Encyclopedia
Alfred C. "Al" Sikes is a Republican
former U.S. administrator
who served as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) from August 8, 1989 to January 19, 1993. He received a B.A.
degree for political science
from Westminster College in 1961 and an L.L.B.
degree from the University of Missouri School of Law
in 1964. Sikes founded the non-profit Reading Excellence and Discovery Foundation
and serves as chairman of the Trinity Forum
's board of trustees. In June 2007, he accepted a position on the board of directors of Gather.com
.
from 1969–1972. He directed Missouri's Department of Community Affairs from 1973–1974, and the state's Department of Consumer Affairs, Regulation, and Licensing from 1974–1976. From 1977–1978, Sikes worked with radio companies, and from 1978–1986, he was president of Sikes and Associates, Inc., a media company. In 1986, he became Assistant Secretary of Commerce and director of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. U.S. President George H. W. Bush
nominated Sikes to be a member of the FCC on June 28, 1989, and he was designated as the commission's chairperson after being confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
and promoted the establishment of a technical standard for high-definition television
. Sikes was also a proponent of allocating space on airwaves for mobile services, including radio telephones and cell phones.
Sikes succeeded Dennis R. Patrick
as FCC head, and although his term as a commissioner was scheduled to end on June 30, 1993, Sikes announced his resignation on January 19, 1993. He stepped down to let Democrat
Bill Clinton
, who had just been elected U.S. President at the time, choose his own FCC head. After Sikes left, James Henry Quello
succeeded him as interim chairperson. Sikes was hired by the Hearst Corporation
in March 1993 to oversee the company's New Media & Technology Group, defying earlier speculation about a possible attempt at running for Congress or become Secretary of Commerce.
as "mild-mannered." Sikes' family owned a sporting goods store in Sikeston, Missouri
, a city founded by his great-great-great-uncle. In October 1992, Sikes was treated for prostate cancer
, an event that radio personality Howard Stern
mocked after the FCC fined radio station KLSX
for broadcasting Stern's program.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
former U.S. administrator
Independent agencies of the United States government
Independent agencies of the United States federal government are those agencies that exist outside of the federal executive departments...
who served as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) from August 8, 1989 to January 19, 1993. He received a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree for political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
from Westminster College in 1961 and an L.L.B.
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
degree from the University of Missouri School of Law
University of Missouri School of Law
University of Missouri School of Law is the law school of the University of Missouri, a state university in the U.S. State of Missouri. It is located on the university's main campus in Columbia, forty minutes from the Missouri State Capitol and Supreme Court in Jefferson City...
in 1964. Sikes founded the non-profit Reading Excellence and Discovery Foundation
Reading Excellence and Discovery Foundation
Reading Excellence and Discovery Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit charitable organization founded in 1999 by Al Sikes. The program was first conducted at two parochial schools in 2000. The READ foundation was created in light of the high proportion of children in New York City from low-income...
and serves as chairman of the Trinity Forum
Trinity Forum
The Trinity Forum is a Christian non-profit organization founded in 1991 that fosters the development of networks of leaders who share its commitment to cultural renewal. The organization conducts seminars and retreats for leaders to discuss issues involving faith and culture, including private...
's board of trustees. In June 2007, he accepted a position on the board of directors of Gather.com
Gather.com
Gather or Gather.com is a social networking website designed to encourage interaction by discussion of various social, political and cultural topics. Its headquarters are in Boston, Massachusetts...
.
Career
Sikes worked at Allen, Woolsey and Fisher, a law firm, from 1964–1968, and was assistant Missouri Attorney GeneralMissouri Attorney General
The Office of the Missouri Attorney General was created in 1806 when Missouri was part of the Louisiana Territory. Missouri's first Constitution in 1820 provided for an appointed Attorney General, but since the 1865 Constitution, the Attorney General has been elected...
from 1969–1972. He directed Missouri's Department of Community Affairs from 1973–1974, and the state's Department of Consumer Affairs, Regulation, and Licensing from 1974–1976. From 1977–1978, Sikes worked with radio companies, and from 1978–1986, he was president of Sikes and Associates, Inc., a media company. In 1986, he became Assistant Secretary of Commerce and director of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. U.S. President George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
nominated Sikes to be a member of the FCC on June 28, 1989, and he was designated as the commission's chairperson after being confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
Chairman of the FCC
Bush chose Sikes to be chairperson over attorney Sherrie P. Marshall, whom he also nominated as a commissioner, because Sikes was thought to have a good relationship with Congress and be more likely to pass the Senate confirmation. During his tenure as FCC chairman, Sikes supported deregulationDeregulation
Deregulation is the removal or simplification of government rules and regulations that constrain the operation of market forces.Deregulation is the removal or simplification of government rules and regulations that constrain the operation of market forces.Deregulation is the removal or...
and promoted the establishment of a technical standard for high-definition television
High-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
. Sikes was also a proponent of allocating space on airwaves for mobile services, including radio telephones and cell phones.
Sikes succeeded Dennis R. Patrick
Dennis R. Patrick
Dennis R. Patrick served as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission from April 18, 1987 to August 7, 1989. He had been a member of the Commission since December, 1983, and had held positions in the Reagan administration since January, 1982...
as FCC head, and although his term as a commissioner was scheduled to end on June 30, 1993, Sikes announced his resignation on January 19, 1993. He stepped down to let Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
, who had just been elected U.S. President at the time, choose his own FCC head. After Sikes left, James Henry Quello
James Henry Quello
James Henry Quello was a Democratic government official who oversaw the communications industry and a scholar who was born in Laurium, Michigan. He was a Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission and, in 1993, served as the Acting Chairman of the Commission...
succeeded him as interim chairperson. Sikes was hired by the Hearst Corporation
Hearst Corporation
The Hearst Corporation is an American media conglomerate based in the Hearst Tower, Manhattan in New York City, New York, United States. Founded by William Randolph Hearst as an owner of newspapers, the company's holdings now include a wide variety of media...
in March 1993 to oversee the company's New Media & Technology Group, defying earlier speculation about a possible attempt at running for Congress or become Secretary of Commerce.
Personal life
Al Sikes was born to Marcia Weber Sikes, who died in 2006, and William Kendall Sikes, who died in 1994. He is married to Martha Sikes and has three daughters, Deborah, Christine, and Marcia. He was described in The New York TimesThe New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
as "mild-mannered." Sikes' family owned a sporting goods store in Sikeston, Missouri
Sikeston, Missouri
Sikeston is a city located both in southern Scott County and northern New Madrid County, in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is geographically situated just north of the "Missouri Bootheel", although many locals consider Sikeston a part of it. By way of Interstate 55, Sikeston is close to the...
, a city founded by his great-great-great-uncle. In October 1992, Sikes was treated for prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
, an event that radio personality Howard Stern
Howard Stern
Howard Allan Stern is an American radio personality, television host, author, and actor best known for his radio show, which was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s where he was labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style...
mocked after the FCC fined radio station KLSX
KLSX
KAMP-FM 97.1 FM, known on-air as 97.1 AMP Radio, is a Rhythmic Contemporary radio station in Los Angeles, California. The station is owned by CBS Radio.The station had long been known as KLSX before the call sign changed on June 30, 2009....
for broadcasting Stern's program.