Abernathy served as EVP, external affairs, for Frontier Communications Inc. until her retirement in 2017. Abernathy joined Frontier in March 2010 as Chief Legal Officer and Executive Vice President. Prior to this, she was a Partner at Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP. Abernathy served as a Commissioner with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from 2001-2005. Prior to joining the FCC, Abernathy was Vice President for Public Policy at Broadband Office Communications; Vice President for Regulatory Affairs at US West; and Vice President for Federal Regulatory Affairs at AirTouch Communications. Abernathy received her B.A. magna cum laude from Marquette University and her J.D. from Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law. She has served as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center and The Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law.