Longtime cable-technology expert Wendell Bailey lost his battle with cancer Tuesday, passing away during the morning at his home in Fort Washington, Md.
Funeral arrangements and memorial-donation information is still pending.
Bailey was a well-known presence in cable-technology circles. A graduate of the University of Maryland, he most recently was chief technologist for advanced broadband technology at NBC.
He was the author of more than 100 technical papers on cable technology and policy. His resume also included a 17-year stint as vice president for science and technology at the National Cable & Telecommunications Association and, before that, he served in technology posts at the former MCI Telecommunications and AT&T.
Recently, he also has served on the advisory board for Cedar Point Communications and held positions on the board of directors for the Society of Cable and Telecommunications Engineers, as well as the Federal Communications Commission’s Advanced Television System Committee.
Bailey also was an active amateur-radio operator and pilot.
Cable-industry players are already starting to provide their thoughts on Bailey.
“Wendell always struck me as a kind of boulevardier, a worldly, sophisticated gentleman about town, with his own very personal style,” said former NCTA president James Mooney. “He knew everyone, had been everywhere and had an extraordinary range of interests. He was fun to be with. I'm going to miss him very much.”
