Kathleen Abernathy, a former commissioner at the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, joined DISH Network Corp.'s board as an independent director.

Abernathy will serve on the audit and executive compensation committees of the board, according to a March 11 SEC filing. Abernathy is on the board of various private and nonprofit companies and organizations.

Abernathy also previously was executive vice president of external affairs for Frontier Communications Corp. and as its chief legal officer.