Klein Law Group’s trademark “National Communications Counsel” references the firm’s national practice scope, as firm attorneys regularly handle matters at both the federal level and courts and commissions from coast-to-coast. What sets the firm apart is the unique combination of technical knowledge, legal acumen, and litigation ability housed in a boutique firm providing big-firm capability at small-firm rates.

Klein Law Group and/or firm attorneys are routinely listed in the Wall Street Journal, US News and World Report and The Washington Post among the Best Firms and Best Lawyers in America and as Washington, D.C. and New York SuperLawyers®. Our reputation is built on a deep understanding of the evolution of the wireline, wireless, and broadband industries, a clear grasp of its current landscape, and insight into the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. We are known for delivering strategic guidance along with proactive and zealous representation that aligns with our clients’ business objectives.

  • Broadband Deployment, Compliance and Funding
  • Mergers, Acquisitions, and Transfers of Control
  • Pole Attachments and Right-of-Way Access
  • FCC and State Commission Proceedings
  • Litigation and Dispute Resolution
  • Voice/VoIP and Texting Requirements and Compliance
  • FCC and State Commission Licensing and Compliance
  • Corporate Law and Commercial Contracts
  • Universal Service Fund (USF) Reports and Audits
  • Cybersecurity and Supply Chain Management
  • Wireless and Tower Siting
  • Lobbying Before Regulatory and Legislative Bodies

Broadband

  • Broadband Compliance
    • Advising on new and proposed FCC and other federal and state agency rules applicable to broadband providers.
    • Advising on FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC) requirements and mapping.
    • Counseling on FCC broadband labeling requirements.
    • Advising on and creating Broadband Internet Access Services (BIAS) Network Management Policies.
    • Advising on outage reporting.
  • Broadband Grant Application and Compliance
    • Advising and managing FCC, NTIA, USDA/RUS, and Treasury broadband deployment grant applications and awards, including BEAD, RDOF, ARPA, and other funding programs.
    • Designing, negotiating, and finalizing grant and funding agreements.
    • Assisting with compliance and reporting obligations under programs and agreements.
    • Assisting in obtaining funding for grant match requirements.
    • Assisting with letters of credit or bonds required under grant or funding programs.
    • Preparing, advising on, and submitting USDA/RUS Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan applications.
  • Broadband Lobbying
    • Meeting with federal regulators at the FCC, NTIA, USDA/RUS, and Treasury along with Congressional and State officials, advocating for key changes to broadband deployment programs and requirements.
    • Maintaining strong relationships with federal officials, elected representatives, state broadband offices, counties, and local governments to accelerate deployment and minimize hurdles for broadband providers.
    • Creating coalitions of broadband providers to address and seek relief from burdensome regulatory requirements.

Mergers, Acquisitions, and Transfers of Control

  • Drafting and negotiating agreements for mergers, acquisition of assets, and transfers of control, ranging from millions to billions of dollars.
  • Conducting due diligence on potential deals and advising on same
  • Obtaining FCC and State Commission approval for such transactions, including applications, discovery, hearings, negotiation and post-closing compliance.
  • Managing Team Telecom review process, responding to information requests, and negotiating mitigation agreements to obtain multi-agency approval.

Pole Attachments and Right-of-Way Access

  • Counseling on federal and state law governing access to utility poles, ducts, and conduit.
  • Representation in pole attachment disputes, including litigation in federal and state courts, and before the FCC’s Rapid Broadband Assessment Team (RBAT).
  • Resolving disputes with state and local authorities on permits and revenue sharing agreements needed to deploy fiber, install utility poles, and offer broadband services in rights of way along with asserting federal preemption limits on local authorities.
  • Designing, negotiating, and finalizing franchise agreements with local authorities needed for broadband deployment or cable/video services.
  • Designing easement agreements to deploy fiber and place facilities on private land or along or under railroad crossings.
  • Assisting in gaining access to easements to deploy broadband in private communities, including interfacing with HOAs and developers.
  • Assisting in getting access to and providing broadband services to Multiple Tenant Environments (MTE).

FCC and State Commission Proceedings

  • Answering Notices of Inquiry from the FCC Enforcement Bureau (EB).
  • Defending against Notices of Apparent Liability (NAL) from FCC EB
  • Filing, addressing, and mediating informal complaints before the FCC Market Dispute Resolution Division (MDRD).
  • Representing providers in formal complaint proceedings before the FCC MDRD.
  • Representing clients in various State Commission proceedings, including pole attachments, service quality, emergency preparedness and outages, and audits.

Litigation and Dispute Resolution

  • Representing companies in disputes with end users, vendors, subcontractors, employees, government agencies and transaction parties.
  • Litigating disputes in state and federal courts nationwide on a wide variety of communications and commercial issues.
  • Litigating arbitrations in the U.S. and internationally.
  • Negotiating settlement agreements.
  • Informal and Formal Complaint proceedings at the FCC.

Voice/VoIP and Texting Requirements and Compliance

  • STIR/SHAKEN
    • Assisting in complying with the FCC’s STIR/SHAKEN rules.
    • Advising on certifications made in the FCC’s Robocall Mitigation Database (RMD).
    • Designing and advising on Robocall Mitigation Plans (RMP), including robust “Know Your Customer” provisions and Acceptable Use Policies (AUP).
    • Counseling on FCC enforcement related to RMD and RMP submissions.
  • Call Blocking
    • Advising on permissible blocking and notification requirements.
    • Advising on handling blocking challenges from subscribers.
    • Advising on blocking illegal calls and texts on a Do Not Originate (DNO) list.
  • Reassigned Numbers Database
    • Advising on the Reassigned Numbers Database (RND) and compliance requirements.
  • Enforcement
    • Assisting in responding to traceback requests.
    • Representing providers in enforcement actions by the FCC, FTC or attorney generals.
    • Assisting in responding to Civil Investigative Demands (CID) or subpoenas.
    • Resolving compliance issues and complaints with federal and state authorities.
  • USF
    • Advising on USAC reporting for VoIP and telecommunications services subject to USF contributions.
    • Advising on USF reseller exemption certificates.
    • Assisting in submitting 499-Q and 499-A filings.
  • CPNI and TCPA
    • Advising on CPNI and TCPA requirements and compliance.
    • Advising on TCPA compliance obligations applicable to voice calls as well as automated dialing systems and artificial or prerecorded voice messages, text messaging, telemarketing, blocking and robocalls.
    • Designing CPNI policies and procedures and filing annual CPNI certifications.
  • Other
    • Designing and filing CALEA and System Security and Integrity Plans.
    • Advising on:
      • 911 and 988 outage reporting requirements along with Kari’s Law (direct dialing and notification for Multiline Telephone Systems (MLTS)) and RAY BAUM Act (dispatchable 911 location for MLTS).
      • Truth-in-billing requirements for customer invoices.
      • 10 Digit Long Code (10DLC) texting requirements.
      • FCC Section 214 discontinuance obligations.
      • Numerous FCC and State Commission compliance matters.

FCC and State Commission Licensing

  • Obtaining appropriate FCC and State Commission authority to operate as telecommunications, private line, or VoIP providers.
  • Representing clients before the Committee for the Assessment of Foreign Participation in the United States Telecommunications Services Sector (Team Telecom).
  • Assist transaction parties in responding to questionnaires and audits imposed as part of Team Telecom national security review.
  • Represent clients in negotiation of, and compliance with, mitigation agreements entered with U.S. Department of Justice.

Corporate Law and Commercial Contracts

  • Creating a variety of new businesses, including corporations and LLCs, along with preparing bylaws, articles of incorporation and other corporate documents.
  • Addressing stock holdings, sharing, and other aspects of corporate ownership.
  • Designing and implementing Master Service Agreements (MSAs), white label agreements, interconnection agreements, acceptable use policies, among a variety of other agreements and policies.
  • Assisting in resolving disputes under commercial agreements, among end user customers, vendors, subcontractors and employees.
  • Litigating disputes under commercial agreements.

Universal Service Fund (USF)

  • Advising on USAC reporting for VoIP and telecommunications services subject to USF contributions.
  • Ensuring USF contributors remain compliant to minimize risk and costs.
  • Advising on USF reseller exemption certificates.
  • Assisting in submitting 499-Q and 499-A filings.
  • Representing providers in resolving disputes with USAC on USF contributions associated with 499-A and 499-Q filings.
  • Reviewing and advising on USF disclosures on customer invoices to ensure compliance with Truth-in-Billing requirements.
  • Handling and preparing late filings or reporting errors and revisions or requests for waivers.
  • Appealing USAC decisions and seeking waivers of FCC USF rules.

Cybersecurity and Supply Chain Management

  • Designing Cybersecurity Risk Management Plan, Policy, Access Control Policy, and Cyber Incident Response Plan.
  • Designing Supply Chain Risk Management Plan and Policy.

Wireless and Tower Siting

  • Advising on wireless licensing and spectrum issues.
  • Assisting Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO) in becoming operational and complying with FCC and State requirements.
  • Assisting with tower and antenna siting application and disputes.
  • Obtaining and maintaining FCC licenses and transfer of control approvals.
  • Asserting federal preemption limits on local authorities.
  • Representing providers before local authorities on zoning and other issues associated with installing towers and poles.
  • Assisting on voice and text call blocking requirements.

Lobbying Before Regulatory and Legislative Bodies

  • Filing comments, petitions for relief or waivers, and ex partes, with the FCC, State Commissions, and other agencies, including in rulemaking proceedings.
  • Holding in-person meetings with appropriate leadership at the FCC, Department of Commerce, NTIA, USDA/RUS, and other agencies on regulatory issues.
  • Meeting with federal regulators at the FCC, NTIA, USDA/RUS, and Treasury along with Congressional and state representatives, advocating for key changes to broadband deployment programs and requirements.
  • Developing and maintaining strong relationships with federal officials, Congressional and state representatives, and agencies along with state broadband offices, counties, and local governments to minimize hurdles for providers.
  • Creating coalitions of providers to address and seek relief from burdensome regulatory requirements.

AI and Emerging Technologies

  • Advising on potential AI-errors and recommending alternative approaches or solutions.
  • Advising on FCC compliance obligations associated with emerging technologies.
  • Analyzing claims and defenses relative to deployment and use of AI online.