About Carl

In 1998, after a 38-year career highlighted by positions as diverse as being the president of a telecommunications company with 168 employees, lead negotiator for the acquisition of communications satellites and satellite positions, an attorney and law professor, and a U.S. Navy officer, Carl Hilliard founded a nonprofit organization to protect and support consumers against the unfair business practices of powerful wireless manufacturers and carriers.

Because of Carl’s work, 911-emergency cell phone calls are free. No one can be denied the service because a phone bill hasn’t been paid or because the service has been cut off. Carl petitioned the FCC to adopt the strongest-signal rule and then he pushed to have it enforced. (If a cellular carrier doesn’t have a signal strong enough in the area to carry a 911 call, the call must be relayed within minutes to a carrier that can do the job.)

Carl made it possible for state attorney generals, public utilities commissions and courts to take action, protecting wireless consumers against unfair practices. He also blocked class-action settlement that pays millions to attorneys and pennies to consumers, sending a strong message to class-action attorneys looking to line their pocketbooks at consumer and company expense.

Before Carl and Wireless Consumers Alliance became the voice for more than 120 million cell-phone-using Americans, Carl was involved with a variety of successful business concerns, including running radio and television stations, developing and deploying voice-storage equipment, developing communication technology and operating pay-television service.

Following graduation from Pomona College in 1957, Carl enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in Japan as an officer in electronic countermeasures for three years. When he returned to the United States, he enrolled in USC School of Law, graduating in 1963.

Carl and his wife, Sharon, have lived in Del Mar for the past 28 years. Their second residence is a historic home in the heart of the Village that once belonged to another Del Mar resident – Carl’s grandfather. The Hilliards have four grown children and seven grandchildren. They’re also the proud “parents” of Teddy, the Scottish terrier, and the owners of Moon Coin Stables.