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Telecommunications - Regulatory Representative Matters

On behalf of two different mobile satellite companies we were successful in obtaining spectrum allocations and licenses to allow these companies to operate their systems; in one of these proceedings, we were able to obtain Department of Defense consent to share spectrum with the Air Force
One of our attorneys founded the business now known as Ibiquity Digital; we developed and successfully implemented a regulatory strategy that resulted in the FCC designating Ibiquity Digital technology as the sole U.S. standard for digital radio broadcasting
Represented mobile service provider in FCC spectrum allocation proceeding for Third Generation (3G) advanced mobile communication services and related Commission dockets affecting flexible use of existing spectrum
Represented numerous clients at the ITU and advised clients on the applicability of the international Radio Regulations to their businesses; assisted clients in obtaining ITU frequency allocation
Obtained the first FCC license by a non-U.S. entity to construct an international undersea private optic cable system; this required extremely complex negotiation between the FCC, State Department and DOD; also obtained landing rights from numerous foreign country regulatory authorities for this cable
Advised a foreign-owned telecommunication company on U.S. regulatory authorizations needed under the Communications Act, the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act and Exon-Florio Amendments to the Defense Production Act to transfer U.S. assets to a new joint venture 50 percent owned by another foreign company; negotiated agreement with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to address law enforcement, national security and public safety issues raised by grant of FCC authorization to the joint venture
Won the first FCC license for a U.S. company to obtain mobile satellite service from non-U.S. satellite operator and filed intervening brief with U.S. Court of Appeals in a successful defense of FCC license grant; negotiated related agreement with the FBI and DOJ to address law enforcement, national security and public safety issues raised by grant of FCC license; advised U.S. and foreign mobile satellite service providers on carrier interconnection and settlement matters
Carried out U.S. and European regulatory due diligence related to proposed acquisition of an international fiber optic network and related international telecommunications services business
Represented international VPN in obtaining rights to establish nodes in over 20 countries throughout the world; we obtained regulatory approvals, negotiated IRUs and assisted in developing customer contracts
Represented multinational carrier subject to U.S. antitrust consent decree in connection with early termination of said decree based on changed circumstances, including deregulation of the home markets of the carrier’s principal carrier affiliates
Represented GTE in the implementation of new area codes and number of conservation proceedings involving Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin
Represented GTE and C3 Communications in matters involving the provision of competitive local exchange, long distance, Internet and data services
Represented and advised Tier 1 wireline carrier on all FCC-related questions including access tariffs and expanded interconnection; responsible for all tariff matters at the FCC for this company
Acted as trustee of the Wichita Stations Trust and the Capstar Trust; these trusts were created to facilitate the $2.1 billion merger of broadcast media conglomerates Capstar Broadcasting Corporation and SFX Broadcasting, Inc. and the merger of Capstar and Chancellor Media to form AMFM, Inc.; we represented the trusts in all regulatory and transactional matters involving the stations and assisted in the operation and management of the stations
We obtained a one-of-a-kind exemption from FCC “must carry” requirements that enabled a major market independent TV station to be carried on more than 100 cable systems; we also helped this station to overcome objections to “local into local” satellite carriage of its signal
We have been instrumental in shaping the FCC’s rules and policies governing the introduction and operation of newly-emerging communications technologies on behalf of several clients; we assisted these clients in obtaining authority for equipment to provide inexpensive, wireless and portable high-speed connections to the Internet and to obtain frequency assignments to increase the speed of their services.
We helped obtain FCC approval for a consortium lead by Sony Pictures Entertainment to acquire the TV stations and programming of the Telemundo Network; because the new consortium was composed of both domestic and foreign corporations, we assisted the client to meet FCC requirements that the transaction be structured to limit control by foreign corporations over station operation
We planned, implemented and managed a successful campaign on behalf of a large group of educational institutions to reverse a government proposal to take away valuable radio spectrum used for educational and religious programming; the spectrum was targeted for reallocation for 3G wireless services; V&E lawyers helped mount a multifaceted campaign that involved legal and policy advocacy before the FCC, the White House, the Congress and the Department of Commerce; we also organized and managed comprehensive lobbying, grass roots and public relations campaigns working with national education associations, telecom companies and consultants
We helped two U.S. telephone companies obtain rulings from foreign regulators that existing licenses sufficed to authorize provision of the clients’ services in the foreign market; this saved the client years of regulatory delay and millions of dollars in legal costs
We assisted a major television group owner and national network to get an FCC order that cable systems restore all of the owner’s stations to cable carriage nationwide
We were successful in obtaining a license for a U.S. telephone company to operate in Mexico after the client’s application had been deferred indefinitely

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

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