[1][3] In 2000, Sikes founded the non-profit Reading Excellence and Discovery Foundation[4] and served as chairman of the Trinity Forum's board of trustees.

[1][6] U.S. President George H. W. Bush nominated Sikes to be a member of the FCC on June 28, 1989, and he was designated as the commission's chairman after being confirmed by the U.S.

[12][13] Sikes was hired by the Hearst Corporation in March 1993 to lead the company's New Media & Technology Group,[14] defying earlier speculation about a possible attempt at running for Congress or joining a Washington law firm.

[18][19] In 1999, Sikes co-founded READ Foundation, a New York City non profit that provides at-risk youth with one-to-one literacy tutoring.

He and his wife live in Easton, Maryland, where he has served on several boards, with a friend started Take The Helm and is the founder of The Monty Alexander Jazz Festival.