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Communications Law
Communication has only gotten more complicated over the years. No longer do we just have printed newspapers telling people what is happening and mailed letters as the way to communicate with each other. Attorneys specializing in communications law get to work with the ever-changing methods we use to communicate with each other, which includes radio, tv, phone, email, text, and the internet. Whenever information is exchanged using technology, there are rules and regulations to govern that use. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is the main agency involved in this area of law.
The FCC has hundreds of millions of dollars each year in its budget and has several bureaus within the agency: Consumer & Governmental Affairs, Enforcement, International, Media, Public Safety & Homeland Security, Wireless Telecommunications, and Wireline Competition.
There are regulations having to do with what content is displayed, particularly to children. There are regulations on market share for telecommunications companies. There are regulations on how to obtain licenses to practice. There are regulations on everything you can imagine related to communication. If you are not working for the FCC, you are probably trying to help your clients navigate the FCC rules.
Getting a job:
Communications law is very technical. If you have a background in information technologies, computer science, data technologies, communication, politics, or marketing, you may do well in communications law.
The FCC employs more than 1200 employees (Legal Career Path). Some attorneys at the FCC write regulations, while others litigate. Administrative law judges at the FCC hear communications law cases.
If you are looking for a job with the FCC, visit this page. There are also part-time and full-time internships available for students (you don’t have to be a law student), although most positions are unpaid.
If you have graduated from law school and want to get into communications law, consider joining the FCC Attorney Honors Program, a two-year program that will train you in all aspects of communications law.
There are also opportunities with private law firms because someone has to go up against the FCC and help clients understand the FCC’s plethora of rules!
As a communications lawyer, you may want to join the Federal Communications Bar Association (FCBA).
Average salary:
A current search on Law Crossing reveals that communication lawyers make about $104,000 on average.
Would you like this practice area?
The First Amendment protects our freedom of speech, but the FCC regulates communication in America to a large extent. If you want to work in a constantly changing area where new technology brings a multitude of legal issues, communications law might be for you. You must have a passion for learning about new forms of technology and how these impact our everyday communications. If you are working for the FCC, you need to have a solid understanding of why the government regulates communication, and if you don’t work for the FCC, you need to be able to understand how the FCC’s regulation negatively impacted your client.
Consider whether these articles interest you:
FCC Adopts Rules to Help Americans Reach 911 and Receive Help From First Responders More Quickly (Cohen)
“The Federal Communications Commission today adopted rules to help ensure that people who call 911 from multi-line telephone systems—which commonly serve hotels, office buildings, and campuses—can reach 911 and be quickly located by first responders. The new rules will also improve emergency response for people who call 911 from other calling platforms. Today’s action implements two laws enacted last year that are designed to strengthen emergency calling.”
FCC Takes Action to Improve Broadband Service Mapping (MeriTalk)
“The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on August 1 voted to approve reports, orders, and notices of propose rulemaking that taken together aim to improve mapping the availability of “fixed” broadband service – the type generally provided by cable and phone companies – in the U.S. The newly established Digital Opportunity Data Collection will collect geospatial broadband service coverage maps…” Read more
“In the contemporary media landscape, the advertising industry is increasingly relying on embedded advertising to reach consumers. The scope of embedded advertising in today’s marketplace raises significant concerns and complicated First Amendment questions regarding the type of regulation needed to suit the interests of all parties concerned. In 2008, the FCC released a joint Notice of Intent/Notice of Proposed Rulemaking entitled Sponsorship Identification Rules & Embedded Advertising, which requested comments on the FCC’s proposed changes to its sponsorship identification rules in light of this growing prevalence of embedded advertising. Yet, four years later, the FCC’s sponsorship identification rules are exactly the same.” Read more