Communications law is no longer simply about landline telecommunications and broadcast television. Emerging, disruptive technologies that rely on spectrum have advanced the communications sector from a core service to a transformative technology.

loader

Overview

Communications law is no longer simply about landline telecommunications and broadcast television. Emerging, disruptive technologies that rely on spectrum have advanced the communications sector from a core service to a transformative technology.

The communications industry is routinely affected by advancements in technology and corresponding shifts in regulatory requirements. Industry participants rely on legal advisors with deep knowledge and experience who understand their businesses, their technology, and the domestic and international laws that govern them. In a dynamic market, many participants do not consider themselves traditional telecoms or broadcasters, but rather innovators who are offering advanced communications and content delivery services. Perkins Coie’s legal team provides a strategic focus and collaborative mindset, informing our representation of some of the world’s pre-eminent market leaders as we help them advance their visions of the future.

Clients are increasingly looking to their law firms to provide more value and to play a stronger strategic counseling role, particularly when launching new products and services. Our Communications industry team includes lawyers who honed their skills as in-house communications counsel and in senior positions in key federal regulatory agencies. Drawing on diverse experiences, we take a holistic approach to our representation of clients, providing advice and guidance on emerging technologies. Our lawyers offer sophisticated product counsel that includes an analysis of applicable regulations of telecommunications, media, artificial intelligence, privacy and other considerations.

We represent both emerging and established companies, negotiating regulated transactions and protecting clients’ interests before state and federal courts and legislatures, regulatory agencies, public utility commissions, and international governments and agencies. While our scope and areas of service center on core telecom regulation, they also extend beyond standard Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proceedings to include developing and implementing innovative legal and public policy strategies to help our clients achieve their business goals. 

The communications industry is routinely affected by advancements in technology and corresponding shifts in regulatory requirements. Industry participants rely on legal advisors with deep knowledge and experience who understand their businesses, their technology, and the domestic and international laws that govern them. In a dynamic market, many participants do not consider themselves traditional telecoms or broadcasters, but rather innovators who are offering advanced communications and content delivery services. Perkins Coie’s legal team provides a strategic focus and collaborative mindset, informing our representation of some of the world’s pre-eminent market leaders as we help them advance their visions of the future.

Clients are increasingly looking to their law firms to provide more value and to play a stronger strategic counseling role, particularly when launching new products and services. Our Communications industry team includes lawyers who honed their skills as in-house communications counsel and in senior positions in key federal regulatory agencies. Drawing on diverse experiences, we take a holistic approach to our representation of clients, providing advice and guidance on emerging technologies. Our lawyers offer sophisticated product counsel that includes an analysis of applicable regulations of telecommunications, media, artificial intelligence, privacy and other considerations.

We represent both emerging and established companies, negotiating regulated transactions and protecting clients’ interests before state and federal courts and legislatures, regulatory agencies, public utility commissions, and international governments and agencies. While our scope and areas of service center on core telecom regulation, they also extend beyond standard Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proceedings to include developing and implementing innovative legal and public policy strategies to help our clients achieve their business goals. 

Areas of Focus

  • Technology and telecom-related transactions and licensing
  • Streaming video and music programming distribution by over-the-top (OTT), wireless, and other platforms
  • Communications procurement and vendor agreements
  • Internet of Things (IoT) device connectivity and FCC equipment certification compliance
  • Licensed and unlicensed wireless network and distribution matters
  • Spectrum access, aggregation, and regulation
  • Net neutrality
  • Broadband privacy counseling and compliance
  • FCC, Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) merger proceedings
  • Digital accessibility and the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) compliance
  • FCC counseling, advocacy, compliance, and enforcement defense
  • FCC enforcement proceedings
  • Public policy matters
  • Privacy and security and the relevant statutes regarding electronic and wireless communications
  • Data distribution strategies and compliance
  • FCC spectrum auctions
  • Broadband infrastructure transactions

Regulatory

Our experience includes decades of work with the laws and regulations critical to the communications sector. We maintain productive relationships with key federal agencies, including the FCC and FTC, and are well positioned to handle traditional proceedings. We also have experience developing and implementing innovative legal and public policy strategies. We also support clients in FCC enforcement and formal complaint proceedings.

Transactional

Perkins Coie is a premier technology transaction law firm. We combine our regulatory experience with our industry-leading transactional know-how to help our communications sector clients form mergers and joint ventures, advising on complex regulated transactions and counseling on the types of customer, supplier, and partner relationships that drive their success.

Product Counsel

Our Product Counsel lawyers advise public, private, and startup companies from product development to launch. With strength in e-commerce, we regularly assist those whose businesses function online, as well as traditional brick-and-mortar presences. Our lawyers provide counsel to businesses on all phases of development, from the white-boarding stage through product launch and end-of-product lifecycle.

Intellectual Property

With a decorated Intellectual Property (IP) practice, Perkins Coie is positioned to offer communications clients sophisticated and forward-looking advice and defense in IP matters, including licensing and business transactions. Our IP lawyer team includes former engineers in the telecom space, providing them with an enhanced and informed understanding of underlying technology. And as the market transitions from companies based in Europe to those based in China, we focus on the particular security concerns inherent in this technology.

5G and Connected Devices and Services

One of the first large firms to establish a 5G industry team, Perkins Coie has seen its Communications group evolve with our clients. Our depth in this area includes negotiating agreements between device manufacturers and mobile wireless carriers for voice and data connectivity and distribution. We advise and counsel companies seeking to launch new or modified connected hardware and services. We also provide related prelaunch regulatory counseling, including regarding FTC preorder rules, environmental regulations, products liability, privacy and security, import and export, and tax compliance.

Accolades

  • Perkins Coie was listed in the Telecom, Broadcast & Satellite in the District of Columbia by Chambers USA, 2022. Individual partners are also recognized by Chambers USA and other leading ranking services.

Experience

News

Insights