Matthew Brill, Global Chair of the Connectivity, Privacy & Information Practice and a member of the Supreme Court and Appellate Practice, is a nationally recognized communications lawyer and former FCC senior official. He represents clients in litigation, regulatory, and transactional matters.
Mr. Brill advises service providers, investors, lenders, and other clients on traditional telecommunications, media, and emerging technology issues. He regularly represents:
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Leading cable operators
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Local exchange carriers
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Wireless carriers
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Internet service providers
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Technology companies
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Online platforms
Mr. Brill represents clients in proceedings before:
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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
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Trial and appellate courts
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State public utility commissions and attorneys general
Mr. Brill served as the Senior Legal Advisor and Chief of Staff to Commissioner Kathleen Abernathy at the FCC. His work at the FCC included developing national policies governing:
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Broadband Internet access
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Voice-over-IP (VoIP) services
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Local telephone competition
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Universal service subsidies
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Intercarrier compensation arrangements
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Spectrum allocation
He served as a law clerk to Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson in the US District Court for the District of Columbia.
Mr. Brill is an active member of the Federal Communications Bar Association (FCBA) and has chaired the FCBA’s Common Carrier Practice Committee.
Mr. Brill’s experience includes representing:
Litigation
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The television industry in a federal court challenge to the constitutionality of a state law requiring sale of all cable channels and programs on an à la carte basis
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The cable industry association in FCC and appellate proceedings regarding net neutrality rules and in related preemption challenges to state net neutrality laws
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Various parties in Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) litigation in appellate and trial courts (including several prominent victories defeating class certification and favorably construing key statutory provisions)
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The cable industry in D.C. Circuit appeal of FCC rules governing findings of effective competition in the video marketplace
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Cable operators in successfully defeating several federal class actions alleging tying of premium cable services and cable set-top boxes
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A leading cable operator in state attorney general investigations regarding allegedly deceptive broadband speed advertising and in related class action litigation
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The cable industry in First Amendment challenges in federal courts of appeals to program carriage rules and analog broadcast carriage requirements
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A large coalition of local exchange carriers in federal court litigation and FCC proceedings arising from disputes over intercarrier compensation rules applicable to wireless traffic
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Telecommunications industry clients and others on defamation issues
Transactional
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BAI Communications in its acquisition of Mobilitie, the largest privately held infrastructure company in the United States
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Searchlight Capital Partners on its take-private of Hemisphere Media Group by portfolio entity Gato Investments
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Searchlight Capital Partners in its acquisition of All Points Broadband, a provider of fiber-to-the-home and fixed wireless services
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T-Mobile independent directors in connection with the merger with Sprint and spin-off of Boost Mobile
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LogMeIn in its sale to Francisco Partners and Elliot Funds, and also in its prior purchase of providers of VoIP and collaboration services
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Time Warner Cable in obtaining regulatory approval for its merger with Charter Communications, and in prior proposed merger with Comcast Corp.
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Time Warner Cable in its various acquisitions of cable systems and telecommunications assets, and sale of wireless spectrum
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T-Mobile independent directors in connection with the merger with Sprint
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Private equity purchasers of Cequel Communications
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Private equity purchasers of Hargray Communications
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Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets Inc. in purchase of regional fiber networks
Regulatory
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The cable industry association in FCC and appellate proceedings regarding net neutrality rules and in related preemption challenges to state net neutrality laws
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Comcast in FCC proceedings regarding broadband data services and in related appeal
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Charter and other telecommunications carriers in appeals of Universal Service Administrative Company rulings regarding compliance with E-rate program rules
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A broad coalition of local exchange carriers seeking a declaratory ruling regarding the application of intercarrier compensation rules to wireless traffic transmitted by interexchange carriers
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A leading cable operator in a congressional investigation of customer service issues
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Wholesale telecommunications carriers serving retail VoIP providers in securing key FCC rulings regarding interconnection rights
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A broad industry coalition seeking reform of FCC retransmission consent rules