WASHINGTON-Former FCC Commissioner Abbott McConnell Washburn, 88, died Dec. 11 of complications following a stroke, it was announced Thursday.
Washburn, who served on the Federal Communications Commission from 1974 to 1982, was a supporter of mobile telephony and advocated creating a spectrum allocation for this purpose.
Longtime telecommunications policy-makers mourned Washburn’s death Friday. “He was a wonderful man of high ideals,” said former FCC Chairman Richard Wiley, who said he spoke with Washburn just prior to his stroke. Wiley served as FCC chairman until 1977.
In addition to serving at the FCC, Washburn served in the White House Office of Telecommunications Policy during the Nixon administration. He also held many government broadcasting-related posts.
He graduated cum laude from Harvard University in 1937 and served in the Navy assigned to the Office of Strategic Services in Europe during World War II.
His marriage to Mary Brennan Washburn ended in divorce, but two sons from this marriage survive him. Wanda Allender Washburn, his wife of 40 years, a daughter and four grandchildren also survive him.
