The partial federal shutdown isn’t affecting the repacking directly. But inability to get transaction applications and other non-auction filings processed is making things tough for some broadcasters, lawyers and industry officials told us.
Venable hires for legislative and government affairs practice: Anne Kierig, ex-DLA Piper, as counsel-cybersecurity and privacy; Steve Vest, ex-Time Warner, as senior policy adviser; and Nick Choate, ex-Office of former Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., as policy adviser-telecom, cybersecurity and technology ... Duane Morris taps Kevin Anderson, ex-Wiley Rein, as partner-intellectual property.
The halt in regular FCC operations isn't having a large impact on communications law firms and most clients yet, said attorneys who continue to draft pleadings, provide advice, handle litigation and do other work. But if the shuttering lasts an extended period, it will cause delays and backlogs that increasingly have negative fallout on matters large and small, rippling through industry, they said this week.
RigNet taps Jamie Barnett, from Venable, as senior vice president-government services ... Wiley Rein promotes as partners-telecom, media and technology Edgar Class and Ari Meltzer ... Lewis Brisbois hires Rich Goldberg, ex-DOJ, as partner-data privacy and cybersecurity ... Wireless Infrastructure Association names Kate Forscey, ex-Office of Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., director-legislative affairs ... Sam Rizzo, ex-Office of U.S. Trade Representative, joins Information Technology Industry Council as director-policy, focusing on trade issues.
Cooley expands global cyber-data-privacy and telecom practice with partner Travis LeBlanc, ex-Boies Schiller ... Womble Bond announces new partner and head of telecom team David Carter, ex-Innovista; also joining team from Innovista associates Ernesto Mendieta and John Nelson; senior counsel Howard Shapiro retiring; Erin Fitzgerald hired by FCC as Wireless Bureau attorney-adviser ... Computer & Communications Industry Association hires Keir Lamont, ex-Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, as counsel-privacy, security and emerging technology ... Harris Wiltshire promotes Shiva Goel to partner ... Wilkinson Barker adds Chris Bair, ex-FCC International Bureau, as associate-international and satellite communications.
Having pleaded guilty in 2015 to an antitrust charge and agreed to a $550 million fine (see 1507060031), JPMorgan Chase now is asking the FCC for OK to again have a stake in Ligado. In a docket 15-126 filing Thursday, the investment bank said its stake in Ligado has been held in proxy as part of the FCC's approval of Ligado -- then LightSquared -- emerging from bankruptcy (see 1603170039), but the agency should decide the firm has the qualifications to hold interest in the company and let the proxy agreement expire. It said the foreign currency exchange spot market misconduct that was subject of its antitrust charge was unrelated to Ligado and there has been "significant remedial action" since then. Wiley Rein's Richard Wiley, a former FCC chair, signed the filing.
The FTC has funding to operate through 11:59 p.m. EST Friday, a spokesperson said Thursday. The agency previously said it would operate through at least mid-day Friday if there were a lapse in funding (see 1812210048). The agency’s latest contingency plan shows it operating at about 23 percent in a shutdown. Employees working Friday can complete shutdown responsibilities before the end of the work day, the spokesperson said.
Tom Navin, ex-Wiley Rein, joins Facebook as global policy director-connectivity and access ... Jenner & Block advances AnnaMarie Van Hoesen to partner-entertainment and intellectual property ... CPB promotes Maja Mrkoci to chief content and innovation officer ... Vbrick names Christian Rockwell, ex-Sparta Systems, chief marketing officer.
Assistant to Agriculture Secretary-Rural Development Anne Hazlett says department's Bette Brand becomes acting administrator of USDA’s Rural Utilities Service and remains administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service ... Media Institute board designates Richard Kaplar president-CEO, says Chairman Richard Wiley, who stays in that post; Kaplar had previously remained executive director after being promoted to the group's head (see this section in the Dec. 6, 2017, issue).
Tech/telecom-minded Sen.-elect Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., will likely sit on the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2019, lobbyists and industry officials told us. Republican leadership is seeking a female member given the criticism it took for an all-white-male majority reviewing Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court confirmation. Blackburn declined comment.