Still Mr. Nice Guy?

As the new chairman of the FCC, William Kennard is the nation's most powerful regulator of telecommunications. But not too long ago, more than one person might have asked, "Bill who?"

Kennard, a 40-year-old Yale Law graduate who on Nov. 7 became the first African-American to chair the FCC in its 63-year history, is stepping into the spotlight. As general counsel for four years, he played a vital role, increasing the FCC's win rate in court from 55% to 85%. One notable exception is the interconnection case.

But this job is different. As chairman, Kennard sits squarely in the public eye, on the hot seat where Congress, consumers, industry factions and state commissions focus their often conflicting demands.

"The FCC has to make decisions which are unpopular in some quarters, and I have no illusions about that," says Kennard, a Democrat and former Washington-based law firm partner.

The basic fight now is over how to speed up competition in local telephone markets. If anyone can pull it all together, it may be Kennard.

Universally praised as Mr. Nice Guy-in contrast to his predecessor and former boss, the strong-willed Reed Hundt-he promises to listen to all sides and to forge consensus. He'll need his self-described lawyerly skills of "cajoling, convincing and persuading."

If competition develops as intended, he says, "hopefully, the FCC won't have as prominent a role as it does today."

For now, though, Kennard has his hands full. The five commissioners, four of whom were sworn in only late this year, will tackle a variety of issues in the coming months. On the near-term agenda are reform of the universal service system that subsidizes local phone service for rural and other high-cost customers, standards for digital television and implementation of a global trade agreement that allows U.S. and foreign companies to cross-invest.